Over recent years the number of species of Damselfly and Dragonfly has increased as their ranges expand north, including the elegant Banded Demoiselle which frequents the Roch.
A good selection of butterflies can be found, including the Wall Brown which maintains a stronghold on the moorland fringe.
The Rochdale Canal supports the native White-clawed Crayfish (Austropotamobius pallipes), whilst the rare and declining wetland mollusc, the Pond Mud Snail (Omphiscola glabra) is to be found in some of the ponds around Kingsway. The snail is now classified as vulnerable by the IUCN. It is thought that the species may well be under recorded and Rochdale Field Naturalists are currently carrying out a survey in collaboration with PondNet to determine its presence. Pond Mud Snail information sheet
Bumblebees
The Society has also been collaborating with the Bumblebee Conservation Trust to determine the presence of Bumble Bees in the borough, and in particular with Bee Walks in Mandale park in the centre of Rochdale. You can see the results for 2016 and 2017 here. Bumblebees 2016-2017
Butterflies
The Field Nats Garden Observers team keep tabs on all the butterflies they see in their gardens, and we look for them when we’re out and about on local survey walks too.
Here’s a record of the first and last dates for the 24 species of butterfly seen in 2023:
Butterflies First and Last dates 2023
Many of our Garden Observers noted that Holly Blue butterflies were significantly more common than usual in 2023.
In September Butterfly Conservation announced that Holly Blues had had another good summer, with numbers up 66% on 2022, in keeping with its longer-term Big Butterfly Count trend of a 41% increase.
Here’s how they have been faring in Rochdale and the Surrounding Area – taken from our Observers’ monthly returns
Holly Blue Butterfly Sightings by RFNS Observers 2023
Invertebrates Recorded as Present 2016-2019
Flatworms
There are at least three native species of Land flatworms in the UK, but more than ten non-native species. Non-native land flatworms are typically accidentally introduced in imported pot plants and new non-natives continue to be discovered in the UK. Once introduced they can reproduce rapidly, are difficult to eradicate and pose a risk to native invertebrates such as earthworms by feeding on them.
Here is an information sheet from BugLife to tell you more and help identify them.
Australian flatworms have recently (2024) been found in a Rochdale garden.
If you spot one, PLEASE REPORT it.