Moth species find is a Scottish first

A species of moth has been recorded in Scotland for the first time.

The sallow-shoot piercer moth (Cydia servillana) was spotted perched on a nettle at the Scottish Wildlife Trust’s Cathkin Marsh Wildlife Reserve near Glasgow by regular visitor Bill Higgins.

The moth is one of thousands of species in the family of tortrix moths. It relies on willow trees as its food plant. Eggs are laid on buds and the larvae burrow into twigs for the winter before emerging in spring as adults.

There are currently just 29 records of the sallow-shoot piercer moth on the National Biodiversity Network Atlas and none north of Birmingham. However, the species is likely to be under-recorded.

Mr Higgins was initially unable to identify it by consulting books and websites but the mystery was solved when he spoke to expert Dr Mark Young through an online forum.