WILDLIFE: Moths on the move

New book shows how our moths are reacting to change...

A NEW study of Britain and Ireland’s larger moths has revealed that they are on the move.

Driven by factors such as climate change and habitat damage, many species are modifying their ranges.

The newly published Atlas of Britain and Ireland’s Larger Moths has revealed the extent of the changes.

Scientists say that intensive agriculture has caused the decline of many moth species through the destruction of wildlife-rich habitats and use of fertilisers and pesticides.

Widespread environmental pollution such as artificial light at night and chemicals in the air and soil, are altering plant and animal communities in ways that are damaging to moths.

Man-made climate change has facilitated the spread of moths to new parts of Britain and Ireland that were formerly too cold, while at the same time posing a long-term risk to species found in cool and restricted habitats such as mountainsides.

The book is comprehensive and lists 893 species.

The scientists’ analysis of distribution records over the period 1970 to 2016 in particular shows that 31 per cent of 390 larger moth species have decreased significantly in Britain.

During that same period 38 per cent of species became significantly more widespread in Britain.

This means that the range of moths in any particular area is changing rapidly, with some species disappearing and others ready to colonise new areas.

The atlas is the first publication to trace the distribution of all larger moths of Britain, Ireland, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands in forensic detail.

It is based on more than 25 million records sourced from Butterfly Conservation’s National Moth Recording Scheme and the MothsIreland database.

These date from the 18th century through to 2016, meaning this volume contains 275 years of moth-recording effort.

The book will help scientists to further track the fortunes of Britain and Ireland’s larger moths.

Lead researcher on the Atlas, Dr Zoë Randle, said: “The Atlas of Britain and Ireland’s Larger Moths is a landmark publication and a treasure trove to be mined to help us understand the patterns of change in Britain and Ireland’s moths.

“The data used to produce the atlas has been collected by moth recorders (citizen scientists) who are united in their love, passion and interest in moths.

It’s incredible what a movement of individuals can achieve as a community.

We’re very grateful to everyone who has contributed their moth records; without them, we could not have published this book.

“Moths are indicators of the health of our environment. The declines reported are concerning, especially when you consider the potential knock on effects for other creatures such as bats and birds that rely on moths and their caterpillars as a food source.

“Moths also have an important role as pollinators of wildflowers and garden plants.

They could be considered to be the bees of the night-time.

“Ultimately, we need to understand and value other species and the benefits they bring to our lives and the perils we face if we don’t.”

The atlas has confirmed is that some species have been lost entirely in recent decades, such as the Brighton Wainscot and Orange Upperwing, and there are grave concerns for several others including the Speckled Footman, Pale Shining Brown and Stout Dart, which have not been recorded recently.

But other moths have colonised Britain, such as the stunning Clifden Nonpareil, Tree-lichen Beauty and Blackspotted Chestnut, or have spread rapidly northwards within Britain to become much more widespread and abundant than previously, such as the Buff Footman, Pale Pinion and Black Arches.

In Ireland, species such as the Rosy Wave, Orange Sallow and Blair’s Shoulder-knot have colonised this century.

Losses would have been worse if not for conservation action which has greatly reduced the risk of extinction for moths such as the New Forest Burnet and Barberry Carpet.

The abundance of moths has declined.

Detailed monitoring has enabled the calculation of long-term population trends for 397 species in Britain – 34 per cent of moth species have decreased significantly in abundance over the period 1970-2016, compared with only 11 per cent of species which increased significantly.

Ken Bond, from MothsIreland, said: “A lack of systematic recording of moth abundance in Ireland until fairly recently makes comparison more difficult, but there are clear indications that the abundance of a number of Irish species have declined substantially in recent decades.”

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