Shining a light on woodland moths
People are being encouraged to take part in Moth Night events this week and help record species of our woodlands
WILDLIFE enthusiasts and conservationists will be heading for the woods over the next few days as part of the UK’s annual Moth Night event.
Running during the days and nights from today until Saturday, the annual celebration of moths is organised by Butterfly Conservation, butterfly and moth journal Atropos and the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology.
Moth Night highlights the important role played by the 2,500 species of UK moths, unsung heroes of our native wildlife both as plant pollinators and essential food for many other animals.
Woodland, the theme of this year’s event, is a vital habitat for moths because their caterpillars feed on trees, shrubs and lichens, while woodland flowers provide nectar for adult moths. Woodland also provides relatively warm, sheltered conditions, ideal for a wide variety of springtime moths to fly in.
Mark Tunmore, editor of the journal Atropos and Moth Night founder, said: “Common broad-leaved trees such as birches, oaks and willows support hundreds of different moth species here in the UK, which in turn are a vital link in the food chain, particularly for bats and insectivorous birds. Great tits and blue tits, for example, depend entirely on moth caterpillars as food for their chicks. At this time of year, woodlands are at their colourful best and so are their moth inhabitants, with a wide range of beautiful species on the wing.
“We are also encouraging daytime moth hunts this year as there are many day-flying species to be seen, including the stunning broad-bordered bee hawk-moth, speckled yellow and argent & sable. In Scotland it is a particularly special time of the year for moths, with scarce species such as the spectacular Kentish glory, netted mountain moth and small dark yellow underwing flying.”
The abundance of moths has declined by one-third in Britain over the last 50 years and a recent study suggested that declines had been even more extreme in more wooded landscapes. However, some woodland moths have done well, benefitting from the increase in broadleaf woodland in the UK, which has more than doubled in area since the late 1960s.
Dr Richard Fox, head of science at the charity Butterfly Conservation, said: “Government commitments to increase tree cover are very welcome. Allowing natural regeneration of woodland and more tree planting will greatly benefit moths as well as helping to tackle the climate crisis. However, it needs to be the right trees in the right places. Planting non-native trees, such as conifers or Eucalyptus, or planting trees on wildlife-rich open habitats such as grasslands and heaths, will have a negative impact on biodiversity, including for moths.
“In addition, we need to redouble the protection of the UK’s remaining ancient woodlands; unique, irreplaceable habitats of great wildlife, and also historical and recreational, value. At this time of year, our ancient woodland features moths such as the nationally scarce marbled pug, barred umber and marbled brown.”
Dr David Roy, head of the Biological Records Centre at the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, added: “For Moth Night 2022 we’re encouraging
‘At this time of year, woodlands are at their colourful best and so are their moth inhabitants’ MARK TUNMORE
the public to look for and submit sightings of moths in woodland, but also in their gardens, parks and the wider countryside.
“There are public events that people can attend to see magnificent moths. Moths are excellent indicators of biodiversity and the quality of woodland and other habitats, so by submitting Moth Night sightings, people are doing citizen science and helping understand the impacts of land management and climate change.” For more information on taking part in Moth Night, which runs from May 19-21, see www.mothnight.info