Nosterfield Glow-worm Reintroduction

Reintroduction of Glow-worm (Lampyris noctiluca) to Nosterfield NNR in Yorkshire. The species was last recorded from the local area over 100 years ago, where large-scale quarrying prior to the creation of the nature reserve in the 1980s is believed to have wiped out local populations. Although the species has known colonies in the wider region, the Glow-worm is a very poor disperser and despite suitable habitat at the reserve it is believed that a lack of connected, nearby populations is why it never recolonised and why translocation was deemed an appropriate option. Additionally, as a flagship invertebrate species it was hoped that establishing a population could help drive wider public engagement with the reserve.

The project is still in the delivery phase. 460 larvae were released after being bred from imagos sourced from a known, well-established local donor population in September 2024, with a further 220 retained in captivity for breeding a second release generation. It won't be known whether the first cohort of releases will have survived to adulthood in order to breed until Summer 2026.