News › Where have Britain’s moths gone?

Garden tiger moth

20 February 2006

A new report reveals that the moth population of Britain is in serious decline, causing concern for the future of many species of birds, bats and bugs that feed on them. The report, compiled by UK charity Butterfly Conservation, uses data collected by Rothamsted Research's nationwide network of moth light-traps.

The light traps have been collecting data for nearly forty years. They are run by volunteers and sited in all sorts of habitats including coastland, upland moor, woodland and private gardens. Ian Woiwod, of Rothamsted Research in Harpenden, says “These long-running data are unique and have highlighted a very serious ecological issue – the decline of common insects.”

The report’s key conclusions are that since the traps started recording in 1968:

› The number of larger moths in Britain has decreased by 32%
› Southern Britain has seen a decrease in larger moth numbers of 44%
› In urban areas the loss has been 50%
› Twice as many moth species have declined as have increased
› In southern Britain 75 % species are in decline
› Sixty-two moth species became extinct during the twentieth century

However, there has been a 5% increase in the numbers of moths in the northern half of Britain. Here, decreasing populations of some moths have been counterbalanced by increases in others which have previously been more abundant further south, a pattern that suggests a response to climate change. Butterfly Conservation is now seeking funding for a major new National Moth Recording Scheme in order to be able to target conservation.

Pictures available on request.

Contacts

› Jason Chapman and Philip Gould

Notes to Editors

› The report, entitled The State of Britain’s Larger Moths, was funded by the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation (www.esmeefairbairn.org.uk) and compiled by the UK charity Butterfly Conservation (www.butterfly-conservation.org).
› The report will be featured in an edition of BBC Radio Four’s Nature series at 9.00pm on Monday, February 20th

Rothamsted Research Press Office

For further information, please contact Darren Hughes, Head of Communications, on +44 (0) 1582 763 133 ext 2673, email darren.hughes@rothamsted.ac.uk

Rothamsted is the longest running agricultural research station in the world, providing cutting-edge science and innovation for nearly 170 years. Our mission is to deliver the knowledge and new practices to increase crop productivity and quality and to develop environmentally sustainable solutions for food and energy production. Our strength lies in our integrated, multidisciplinary approach to research in plant and soil science.

Rothamsted Research receives strategic funding from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) . It is the longest running agricultural research station in the world, developing environmentally sustainable solutions for food and energy production through science and innovation for nearly 170 years.

About BBSRC

BBSRC is the UK funding agency for research in the life sciences and the largest single public funder of agriculture and food-related research.

Sponsored by Government, BBSRC's budget for 2011-12 is around £445M which it is investing in a wide range of research that makes a significant contribution to the quality of life in the UK and beyond and supports a number of important industrial stakeholders, including the agriculture, food, chemical, healthcare and pharmaceutical sectors.

BBSRC provides institute strategic research grants to the following:

The Babraham Institute, Institute for Animal Health, Institute for Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences (Aberystwyth University), Institute of Food Research, John Innes Centre, The Genome Analysis Centre, The Roslin Institute (University of Edinburgh) and Rothamsted Research.

The Institutes conduct long-term, mission-oriented research using specialist facilities. They have strong interactions with industry, Government departments and other end-users of their research.

For more information see: www.bbsrc.ac.uk