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Main image: Barberry carpet moth, photo by James Lowen
A new report reveals a worrying 33% decline in the populations of larger moths in Britain over the last 50 years.
The report on the state of Britain’s larger moths was conducted by wildlife charity Butterfly Conservation, in partnership with Rothamsted Research and the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology.
It draws on tens of millions of records gathered through the Rothamsted Insect Survey and National Moth Recording Scheme.
The report shows that the total abundance of larger moths in Britain decreased by 33% over a 50-year period between 1968-2017.
This decline was seen across Britain, with a greater loss in the south (39% decrease) than in the north (22% decrease).
‘This decline is worrying because moths play a vital role in our ecosystems. They are pollinators of many plants, with some wildflowers, such as orchids, relying on visiting moths for reproduction.
‘They also provide essential food for thousands of animal species, including bats and many familiar birds.
‘We’re lucky enough to have almost 900 species of larger moths in Britain (including micromoths Britain has a total of 2,600 species).
‘Because moths are dwindling, we can be pretty sure that other wildlife are also in decline and that our wider environment is deteriorating.’
DR RICHARD FOX
Associate director of recording and monitoring at Butterfly Conservation and lead author of the report
The causes for the decline are mixed, though the common factor is human activity.
Habitat destruction and deterioration resulting from changes in land management and chemical pollution are considered the major causes.
‘Our analysis of the millions of records showed that, over the past 50 years, four times as many moth species decreased in abundance as increased. It is possible that our rarest species, for which we cannot easily produce reliable trends, are facing even greater threats to their populations.’
DR COLIN HARROWER
Spatial data analyst at the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology
More sympathetic management (through agri-environment schemes, for example) often leads to increased abundance and species richness of moths.
Artificial light at night also has negative effects on individual moths and, of course, a huge factor is climate change.
Warmer climates mean species located in southern regions are tending to expand further northwards, while also causing declines for moths that are adapted to cooler climates.
One example is the grey mountain carpet, which has seen an 81% decrease in distribution.
Halting or reversing species decline is an enormous task, but it’s not impossible.
The report contains numerous examples of conservation success for very rare and threatened moths.
Work by Butterfly Conservation, plus its partners and volunteers, has shown real results in recent years in reversing species at risk of extinction.
‘Comparing this latest State of Britain’s larger moths to the first edition in 2006, it is a disappointment that the situation has not improved. It is clear that a much bolder policy of habitat protection and restoration will be needed if British moths are to thrive well into the future.’
DAN BLUMGART
Quantitative moth ecologist at Rothamsted Insect Survey
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