New Forest Cicada (Cicadetta montana)
Key Details
| Taxonomic Groups: | Invertebrate > insect - true bug (Hemiptera) > Bug |
| Red List Status: | (Not Relevant) [(not listed)(nr)] |
| D5 Status: | |
| Section 41 Status: | (not listed) |
| Taxa Included Synonym: | (none) |
| UKSI Recommended Name: | Cicadetta montana |
| UKSI Recommended Authority: | (Scopoli, 1772) |
| UKSI Recommended Qualifier: | (none specified) |
| Red List Citation: | (not listed) |
| Notes on taxonomy/listing: | (none) |
Criteria
| Question 1: | Does species need conservation or recovery in England? |
| Response: | Yes |
| Justification: | All confirmed historical sites are in England; GB EN(PE); no confirmed sightings at known sites since 1993 despite extensive survey, especially in late 1990s-2014. |
| Question 2: | Does recovery/ conservation depend on species-specific actions? |
| Response: | Yes |
| Justification: | No records for 30 years |
| Question 3: | At a landscape scale, would the species benefit from untargeted habitat management to increase habitat mosaics, structural diversity, or particular successional stages? |
| Response: | Yes |
| Justification: | Exact habitat requirements unclear, but species seems to prefer warm open forest clearings which may be transitory; species may have metapopulation structure with local sites occupied briefly while their habitat is suitable. Taxon only known from New Forest, therefore non-targeted actions outside of this range are unlikely to provide benefits. Also reasons for extinction are unknown and it is logical that specific habitat action is required to recover the species rather than untargeted habitat management. |
Species Assessment
| Current step on the Species Recovery Curve (SRC): | 1. Taxonomy established |
| Recovery potential/expectation: | Low - Life history factor/s |
| National Monitoring Resource: | Opportunistic - insufficient |
| Species Comments: | Microhabitat requirements are probably complex, involving 7-8 year life cycle most of which is as subterranean nymph. |
Key Actions
Key Action 1
Proposed Action: Continental work indicates that this is a complex of several European (sub)species which are distinguished bioacoustically. Establish taxonomic status of historical British populations in relation to these (sub)species using bioacoustics (comparison of UK recordings with continental ones).
Action targets: 1. Taxonomy established
Action type: Scientific research
Duration: 2 years
Scale of Implementation: ≤ 5 sites
High priority sites: New Forest sites
Comments: Compare historical sound recordings from New Forest populations with recordings from continental Europe.
Key Action 2
Proposed Action: Most recent GB status is RDB Vulnerable, but lack of sightings for 30 years indicate that the species is probably now extinct. Re-survey the locations in the New Forest with the most recent records (1980s - early 1990s).
Action targets: 2. Biological status assessment exists
Action type: Targeted monitoring
Duration: 2 years
Scale of Implementation: ≤ 5 sites
High priority sites: New Forest
Comments: Survey suitable habitat at appropriate time of year, in appropriate weather and using appropriate audio enhancement equipment. Survey should focus on detecting nymphal pre-emergence turrets on soil surface, oviposition scars on host plants, and singing/calling adults.
Key Action 3
Proposed Action: Warming climate may indicate improving conditions for this species in southern England. Conduct a feasibility study on potential for reintroduction to historical sites using material from continental Europe.
Action targets: 6. Recovery solutions trialled
Action type: (Re-)introduction
Duration: >10 years
Scale of Implementation: ≤ 5 sites
High priority sites: New Forest
Comments: The Species Recovery Trust is doing some work towards a reintroduction. Long timeframe for assessment of success due to 7-8 year life cycle.
Acknowledgment:
Data used on this website are adapted from Threatened species recovery actions 2025 baseline (JP065): Technical report and spreadsheet user guide (Natural England, 2025). Available here.