Saturday 30 April 2016


First butterflies, now moths decline

Britain's moths are in danger of dying out, a new report has warned, with three species already extinct and two thirds in decline.

First butterflies, now moths decline
Once common garden species such as garden tiger moths have seen numbers fall by more than 90 per cent Photo: ALAMY



Once common garden species such as the V-moth, garden tiger and spinach moths had seen numbers fall by more than 90 per cent.

The Butterfly Conservation report said moths were declining as a result of changes to habitats, in particular more intensive agriculture, and the effects of climate change, and warned it signalled a "potentially catastrophic" loss of wildlife in the UK.

Across all moths - both "micro-moths" and larger species or "macro-moths" - some 62 species became extinct in the 20th century.

Total numbers of moths have fallen 40 per cent in southern Britain but stayed stable in the north, with declines in some species balanced out by other moths faring well, the report carried out with Rothamstead Research, said.

The difference between north and south is likely to be down to greater loss of habitat in southern Britain and beneficial impacts of climate change for some species in the north.

On a species by species basis, populations have declined on average by 43 per cent in the south and 11 per cent in the north.

Chris Packham, TV wildlife presenter and Butterfly Conservation vice-president, said we all suffer if moths decline.


"As well as being important pollinators, moths are an absolutely vital cog in the food change for other species such as birds and bats.


Richard Fox, surveys manager at Butterfly Conservation and lead author of the report, said the decline in moths points to a wider decline in insects that affects the whole ecosystem and ultimately the human food chain.

"This report paints a bleak picture about Britain's biodiversity.

"Much has been made of the decline of butterflies and honey bees but moths represent the massive but largely un-noticed diversity of insects that form the vast majority of animal life in Britain.

"The severed declines of once common moths and overall decrease in moth abundance that we found are a damning indictment of how recent human activity has devastated our native wildlife."

"Larger moths are representative of that huge wealth of insect life that is out there, which is absolutely crucial for keeping the natural world going and all of the benefits that humans need from the natural world."

Mr Fox said the removal of hedgerows and flower-rich margins to make bigger fields and the increasing use of pesticides and inorganic fertilisers all had an impact on moths, particularly in southern Britain where intensification of farming has been greatest.

Climate change appears to be having a positive effect on some species, allowing some southern moths to spread north, but negative impacts on other moths.

For example, the garden tiger moth, which has undergone a 92% fall in numbers over the 40-year period studied, is adversely affected by warmer winters and wetter springs which are becoming more common as the climate changes.

The report also found that while native species have declined significantly, there has been an influx in new moth species to Britain, thought to be the consequence of warmer conditions making the country suitable for continental species.

More than 100 species have been recorded in the UK for the first time this century and 27 species have colonised Britain since 2000.

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