Report finds moth numbers down one third

BRITAIN’S nocturnal moths have declined by a third in the last 50 years according to a new report, which warns the insects are a crucial indicator of the health of the wider environment.

The report on the State of Britain’s Larger Moths, shows that the total abundance of the insects in Britain decreased by 33 per cent between 1968-2017.

The greatest loss was seen in the south where there was a 39% decrease, while in the northern half – largely Scotland – there was a 22% decrease.

The arrival of new species in Scotland and the north of England due to climate change could disguise the decline of many existing moths including those adapted to colder, damper climates.

The report is the first since 2013 compiled by wildlife charity Butterfly Conservation (BC), in partnership with Rothamsted Research, the longest-running agricultural research institute in the world, and the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology.

Its findings are drawn from tens of millions of records gathered through the Rothamsted Insect Survey and National Moth Recording Scheme.

Dr Richard Fox, Associate Director of Recording and Monitoring at Butterfly Conservation and lead author of the report, said: “This decline is worrying because moths play a vital role in our ecosystems, pollinating many plants.”