Project Background
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| Yellow may spinner mayfly
(Heptagenia sulphurea)
© Cyril Bennet |
Riverflies include primarily Mayflies (Ephemeroptera), Caddis flies (Trichoptera) and Stoneflies (Plecoptera) (a total of 278 species), other taxa, particularly Black flies (Simulidae) are also sometimes included in the definition.
What is Buglife doing?
Buglife and The Natural History Museum convened the Riverfly Partnership in February 2003 so that interested parties could develop consensus on the current situation and to ensure that we were working together to find a solution. For more information on Buglife's freshwater conservation work click here.
Current Progress
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| Turkey brown mayfly
(Paraleptophlebia submarginata)
© Cyril Bennet |
Much of the current research into the decline of riverfly populations has been instigated by individuals and by voluntary bodies, in one case in partnership with the Environment Agency. Buglife believes that the current situation with riverflies is particularly concerning. If the health of our rivers shows such a sudden and steep decline then this has wide implications for society. The declines are a measure of the health of our environment and how well the UK is conserving biodiversity and ensuring sustainable development.
Members of the Riverfly Partnership are currently working to analyse and understand data relating to declines in riverflies.
We hope that this will provide the impetus for detailed research into the causes, which are currently unknown. Once the causes are established action can be taken to reverse the declines.
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| Mayfly (Ephemera vulgata)
© John Mold |
The Riverfly Partnership consists of members of the following organisations:
Amateur Entomologists' Society
Buglife - The Invertebrate Conservation Trust
Environment Agency
Ephemeroptera Recording Scheme
Fly Fishers' Club
John Spedan Lewis Trust for the Advancement of Natural Sciences
Salmon and Trout Association
Trichoptera Recording Scheme, Liverpool Museum.
The Natural History Museum
Wild Trout Trust
Wiltshire Fishery Association
