Rare flame brocade moth is established in the UK (via Dawn Holloway)

The charity Butterfly Conservation says that the rare moth typically found in the Mediterranean has become established in the UK.

The flame brocade moth appears to have started a new colony on the south coast of England.

Researchers from the charity have attributed the arrival of an unusually high number of migrant species to the recent warm weather.

They described this year's migration season as the best in years.

Some of the insects will have flown for three or four days to get to the UK, on the back of a helpful southerly tailwind.

The organisation's head of moth conservation, Mark Parsons, said: "Autumn is usually a good time for immigrant species, but it's the sheer number and diversity this year that's special."

The flame brocade, perhaps the most significant arrival, was first spotted by chance in a back garden in Sussex.

Read on...
By Richard Westcott BBC News

Caterpillars released in their thousands to save rare UK moth

Hope to boost numbers of the barberry carpet moth September 2011: Conservationists have released hundreds of caterpillars in a bid to boost the numbers of one of the UK's rarest moths. About 2,000 barberry carpet moth larvae have been introduced to the organically managed Cholderton Estate on the Hampshire/Wiltshire border.

The barberry carpet moth is extremely rare and is restricted to just a handful of sites across the UK. Wildlife charity Butterfly Conservation timed the release to take place in the evening, giving the larvae a better chance of avoiding predators such as wasps and birds.

The cryptically coloured grey and brown moth gets its name from its association with barberry, a plant that has suffered extensive persecution in the past.

Barberry plant was all but wiped out – and took the moth with it
During the 1970s the Barberry Carpet suffered a dramatic decline when the plant was widely eradicated to prevent it from acting as a host for wheat rust fungus. But, by the time scientists developed rust-resistant varieties of wheat the barberry plant had almost disappeared, spelling disaster for the barberry carpet.

Now steps are under way to reintroduce the moth to parts of its former range. It is hoped the caterpillars released on the Cholderton Estate will go on to form a viable breeding colony.

The fully organic site will provide an ideal home for the new colony of moths as it is managed with an emphasis on nature conservation. It boasts a number of established barberry plants including one bush that is believed to be the oldest in the UK.

Butterfly Conservation's Moth Conservation Officer Tony Davis explained: ‘The Cholderton estate is superbly managed for wildlife and we hope that it will provide a secure home for this extremely rare moth.'

The barberry carpet is limited to a few small sites, mainly in Wiltshire, with colonies also in Gloucestershire, Dorset and introduced colonies elsewhere. A further colony has also recently been discovered in Oxfordshire.
http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/barbary-moth.html

Rare moth spotted during Lambeth wildlife count

Bat populations also thriving August 2011: A rare species of moth that until recently had hardly ever been seen in London has been spotted by volunteer conservationists in Brockwell Park in Lambeth.

The group discovered the rare Jersey tiger moth - which used to be found only in the Channel Islands and the far south of England - while recording local moth and bat populations in Brockwell and Ruskin Parks at night.

Experts believe that brightly coloured tiger moths are gradually moving northwards as the summers become more reliably warm, and they are becoming more common in London.

More than 40 local people volunteered to stay in Brockwell Park on two consecutive nights with local experts and the Friends of Brockwell Park to record the number of bats and moths found there.

BatsIn Brockwell Park at least 14 bats were spotted during the course of the first night, and included common pipistrelle in healthy numbers, as well as soprano pipistrelles and, even more excitingly, Daubenton's bat, which prefers hunting for insects over water.

Most bat activity centred on the park's middle pond which has good habitat structure for these flying mammals being sheltered on either side by trees. Bats are a superb indicator of the ‘ecological quality' of an open space, with each species tending to specialise - a range of species indicates a healthy balance of places to feed and travel, and the success of the park's meadow areas and ponds with 'wild' edges.

This success is also demonstrated by the variety and quantity of moths found next night in Brockwell Park, with 24 different species recorded, including the flame shoulder moth, marbled minor moth and notable sightings of the rare Jersey tiger and small clover case-bearer moths.

Ruskin Park, which contains a similar mixture of ponds and natural wildlife habitats, was also well used by common and soprano pipistrelle bats. A new wildlife-friendly community garden in the centre of the park is also helping to increase the number of feeding opportunities for bats as well as insects like moths on which they feed.

All of the sightings, both common and scarcer species, will be submitted to Greenspace Information for Greater London which collates and makes available information on London's wildlife, parks, nature reserves, gardens and other open spaces.

Donald Campbell from Veolia Environmental Services, which manages both Brockwell and Ruskin Park, said: ‘We're really pleased with the number of moths and bats recorded over each evening. It's great that the residents of Lambeth have this much biodiversity on their doorstep, and we will continue to ensure that all of our parks are a place for both residents and wildlife.'

Iain Boulton from Lambeth Council's Parks and Greenspaces department said: ‘To see a Jersey tiger moth was fantastic. This is an important sighting, which will be recorded and used to monitor the spread of Jersey moths as they apparently move further northwards through the UK. It's also interesting evidence of how our changing climate seems to be having an impact on wildlife.'
http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/lambeth-moth.html

Rare Black Mountain Moth spotted at new sites in Scotland

Black Mountain Moth makes first visit to Trust sites

July 2011. Conservation experts at the National Trust for Scotland are reporting first sightings of the black mountain moth at Glencoe and Ben Lawers this summer.

It is the first time that the day-flying moth has been spotted in these areas, prompting hopes that this nationally scarce species is expanding into new territories. Trust ecologist Dan Watson made the Glencoe discovery on Buachaille Etive Mor, when carrying out a mountain bird survey.

Dan said: "Staff and volunteers spotted several small dark moths flying low over the vegetation - one of them settled long enough for a photograph to be taken, and this was enough to confirm it as a Black Mountain Moth, Glacies coracina.

Nationally scarce moth
"This is a nationally scarce species, only recorded from sixteen 10 kilometre squares since 2000. It has never been recorded from Glencoe before, and this would appear to be the first record for Argyll, the nearest known locations being in Perthshire. As the name suggests, it is a true montane species, only found in the Scottish Highlands within Britain and rarely seen below 2000 feet.

"The dark colour helps it to absorb heat from sunlight more effectively than pale moths do. The caterpillars feed on crowberry. In contrast, the only birds seen were meadow pipits and a few ravens, so the moth was definitely the highlight of the day."

Conservation staff have also spotted the same species for the first time at Ben Lawers.


http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/Black-Mountain-Moth.html#cr