Community / Baltasound bairns select Shetland name for rare Unst beetle
A RARE beetle found only in Shetland, Orkney, Oban and Norway has been given a new name – all thanks to the pupils of Baltasound Primary School.
The plantain leaf beetle, which is only known to be found locally at the Keen of Hamar in Unst, has been re-christened as the ‘peerie red scarred wan’ by local school bairns.
An endangered species conservation programme led by Species on the Edge – and with collaboration from local language group Shetland ForWirds – sought to gave the rare insect its own Shetland-specific name.
And after a project to explore the beetle’s history in the isles, Baltasound pupils settled on da peerie red scarred wan – which refers to its distinctive, bold red stripes.
The beetle is only known to be found in Unst, Yesnaby in Orkney, Oban and Norway, but nowhere else in the world.
Students have been taking part in workshops with Species on the Edge to learn more about the beetle, and even headed out to the Keen of Hamar to look for it.
They have also written a creative story about the beetle.
In the children’s story, da peerie red scarred wan gained its stripes from the rocks at the Keen of Hamar, which historically were used in making paint.
The children’s story has been made into an animation, which can be viewed on the Species on the Edge website.
Species on the Edge’s Gareth Powell said it was “fantastic” to work with Shetland ForWirds and Baltasound primary to “create a truly Shetland name for this beetle and create a myth around its beautiful red stripes”.
Meanwhile Shetland ForWirds’ Bruce Eunson said he was delighted to collaborate on the project with the pupils at Baltasound.
“Takkin Shaetlan language an gittin tae use it no onnly in da schule wi da bairns but in a wye dat is sae creative an cross-curricular wis juist fantastic,” he added.
Visitors to the Keen of Hamar are encouraged to keep an eye out for the rare beetle and to record any sightings on iRecord.
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