The story of the New Forest cicada, Cicadetta montana, is a captivating tale of conservation and the lengths to which we go to protect our natural heritage. This insect, once a familiar sound in the New Forest, has been missing in action since the 1990s, but a dedicated team of conservationists is determined to bring it back. The journey began with a trip to a French military base, where specialist listening equipment helped locate the elusive male cicadas singing their hearts out. Pete Hughes, a volunteer with the Species Recovery Trust (SRT), described the experience as thrilling, akin to something out of a James Bond movie. The SRT team collected 20 bracken stems bearing egg scars, carefully transporting them back to Paultons Park Zoo in Hampshire. This zoo has designed miniature vases to keep the stems alive and prevent any nymphs from falling into water. The eggs, if they hatch successfully, will face a long wait as the immature insects spend between four and 10 years underground feeding on plant roots before emerging as adults. This final stage of the project involves releasing the cicadas at a secret location in the New Forest, a carefully chosen spot that mimics their natural habitat. The SRT's efforts are driven by the belief that changes in habitat management may have contributed to the cicada's disappearance. Conservationists are learning a lot about the cicada's life cycle and behavior by rearing them in captivity, much of which remains a mystery even to European experts. The project is an exciting prospect, with the potential to restore the New Forest's summer soundtrack of hundreds of cicadas singing. However, the road to success is not without challenges, and the wait for the cicadas' return will be a test of patience for all involved. This story highlights the importance of conservation efforts and the dedication of those working to protect our natural world, even for insects that may seem insignificant to some. It also serves as a reminder that every effort, no matter how small, can contribute to the preservation of our diverse ecosystems. As we await the cicadas' return, we can appreciate the intricate web of life that exists in the New Forest and the role that conservation plays in maintaining it.
