Lepidoptera Conservation Bulletin Number 9 April 2008 – March 2009 Compiled by B. Noake (Conservation Officer – Threatened Species), M. Parsons (Head of Moth Conservation) & N. Bourn (Director of Species Conservation) 2009 Butterfly Conservation Report No. S09-18 Butterfly Conservation Company limited by guarantee, registered in England (2206468) Registered Office: Manor Yard, East Lulworth, Wareham, Dorset. BH20 5QP Charity registered in England and Wales (254937) and in Scotland (SCO39268) www.butterfly-conservation.org Noake, B., Parsons, M., Bourn, N., (eds) (2009) Lepidoptera Conservation Bulletin Number 9: April 2008 – March 2009, Butterfly Conservation, Wareham. (Butterfly Conservation Report No. S09-18) Contents Page 1. Introduction ….. …………………………………………………………………………………………... 1 2. Acknowledgements …..…………………………………………………………………………………... 2 3. Update on species covered by Schedule 5 of the Wildlife & Countryside Act; a summary for 2008 ...…………………………………………………………………………...........… 2 4. Conservation action for UK Biodiversity Action Plan moths and butterflies 4.1 Update on the UK Biodiversity Action Plan ……………………………………………………… 3 4.2 Update on UK Biodiversity Action Plan moths and butterflies – a summary for the year 2008 …………………………………………………………………………………………… 4 4.2.1 Update on UK BAP moths ……………………………………………………………..... 5 4.2.2 UK BAP moth email newsletter …………………………………………………………. 14 4.2.3 Update on UK BAP butterflies …………………………………………………………... 15 4.3 Additional species factsheets …………………………………………………………………….. 19 5. Butterfly Conservation Country and Regional Updates 5.1 Butterfly Conservation in Scotland ………………………………………………………………. 19 5.2 Butterfly Conservation in Wales …………………………………………………………………. 20 5.3 Butterfly Conservation in Northern Ireland …………………………………………………...… 23 5.4 Butterfly Conservation in Northern England ……………………………………………………. 24 5.5 Butterfly Conservation in the Midlands ………………………………………………………….. 25 5.6 Butterfly Conservation in the East of England …………………………………………………. 27 5.7 Butterfly Conservation in South East England …………………………………………………. 28 5.8 Butterfly Conservation in South West England ………………………………………………… 29 6. Lepidoptera Recording Updates 6.1 Moths Count Project – National Moth Recording Scheme ……………………………………. 30 6.2 Butterflies for the New Millennium ……………………………………………………………….. 31 6.3 Butterfly monitoring update – the UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme enters a new phase …….. 32 6.4 Wider Countryside Butterfly Survey update ……………………………………………………. 33 7. News and Notes 7.1 Butterfly Conservation Europe: Progress 2007- 08 ……………………………………………. 34 7.2 Update on Butterfly Conservation Reserves in 2008 ………………………………………….. 35 7.3 National Moth Night 2008 ………………………………………………………………...………. 36 7.4 Implementing the Butterfly Conservation and Forestry Commission England joint Conservation Strategy ...…………………………………………………………………………... 36 7.5 Butterfly Conservation publicity highlights ..…………………………………………….………. 37 7.6 Legacies .……………………………………………………………………………………………. 38 8. Selected Bibliography ………………………………………………………………………………….. 38 Noake, B., Parsons, M., Bourn, N., (eds) (2009) Lepidoptera Conservation Bulletin Number 9: April 2008 – March 2009, Butterfly Conservation, Wareham. (Butterfly Conservation Report No. S09-18) 1. Introduction In 2007 we produced what we thought would be the last Lepidoptera Conservation Bulletin. However, after a single year’s break, in which we produced the Conservation Review : 2000 - 2008 , we are pleased to be able to present Lepidoptera Conservation Bulletin Number 9. The format is broadly similar to previous editions covering work from the previous year, although there are a few minor changes, for example Landscape Projects, which formerly had their own section, are now incorporated within the updates from Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the English regions. There have been some significant developments in recent years. 2007 saw the revision of the UK Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP), with several species being downgraded, but many more added as Priority species. This includes a group Butterfly Conservation designated as “Research only” moths and butterflies, the majority of these being widespread and common, but rapidly declining species. Although these species are not covered here, efforts are underway to encourage researchers to look into the underlying factors influencing the broader declines, one current example being the study with WildCru, Oxford University, on moths in the farmland environment. The Bulletin concentrates on a broad selection of the more highly threatened species, including several that were added during the 2007 BAP revision. This demonstrates that we are actively developing new initiatives for many of these species, often incorporated within wider landscape scale projects in conjunction with our partners in other organisations. Another major development has been the establishment of the Moths Count project, primarily funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, incorporating the National Moth Recording Scheme. Many training and public events have now taken place, several conferences held and newsletters produced over the last two years. These efforts will continue in 2009/10 and work is now also underway on a Critical Species Guide and, excitingly, distribution maps are beginning to be produced, although coverage is not yet complete. For further information on the Moths Count project please see www.mothscount.org . The Moths Count website also includes an up to date list of County Moth Recorders. Although 2007 & 2008 may be broadly described as difficult years for recording there have again been many significant publications, which are reflected in the Bibliography. Some of you may be aware of the recently published The Climatic Risk Atlas of European Butterflies , this makes fascinating reading and is available to view online in its entirety. Two other publications worth highlighting here are the Concise guide to the moths of Great Britain and Ireland and British Moths and Butterflies, A Photographic Guide, both volumes that will surely popularise moths further. The above are just a few of the many projects and topics covered by this Bulletin, for additional information please see our website www.butterfly-conservation.org . We hope you agree that the Bulletin is an invaluable opportunity to provide feedback on a wide range of projects and we hope you find it of interest. If you have any comments on this Bulletin we would of course be pleased to hear from you. In order to judge the value of this Bulletin we would like to hear from you; if you feel this annual update should be continued please email [email protected] . In the future this Bulletin will only be distributed electronically, please provide us with an up-to date email address (contact details below). Paper copies will be sent on request only (email [email protected] or telephone 01929 400209). Finally, another Early Day Motion has been put down in the House of Commons, by Bob Russell MP. Over 85 Members of Parliament have signed the Early Day Motion which registers their alarm at the decline in butterfly numbers and says thank you to all the volunteers who participate in the UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme. Mark Parsons, Head of Moth Conservation ([email protected] ), Dr. Nigel Bourn, Director of Species Conservation ([email protected] ) & Richard Fox Moths Count Project Manager/Surveys Manager ([email protected] ). Butterfly Conservation, Manor Yard, East Lulworth, Wareham, Dorset BH20 5QP. - 1 - 2. Acknowledgements Butterfly Conservation is grateful for the continued support of the Government Agencies and their nominated officers: Natural England (David Sheppard), Countryside Council for Wales (Adrian Fowles), Scottish Natural Heritage (Chris Sydes) and Northern Ireland Environment Agency (Richard Weyl). It would be impossible to thank all the individuals and organisations associated with the projects highlighted in this and previous Bulletins, but nevertheless, we would like to take this opportunity to express our gratitude to everyone who has made this work possible. Particular thanks are due to the County Moth Recorders, County Butterfly Recorders, Transect Co-ordinators, Butterfly Conservation Branch Moth and Conservation Officers, organisers of local moth groups and the many other individuals who have contributed time and expertise, for example by supporting Area Action Groups, the Moths Count project and assisting with individual conservation projects. Without your help only a fraction of the projects covered by these Bulletins would have been possible. Finally we would like to thank personally all the contributors to this Bulletin, both for their contributions and for their continued efforts to conserve Britain’s moths and butterflies. Mark Parsons, Head of Moth Conservation ([email protected] ), Dr. Nigel Bourn, Director of Species Conservation ([email protected] ) & Richard Fox Moths Count Project Manager/Surveys Manager ([email protected] ). 3. Update on species covered by Schedule 5 of the Wildlife & Countryside Act; a summary for 2008 Those species which are fully protected under Schedule 5 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act and are also UK BAP Priority species are reported in section 4 (this includes Barberry Carpet Pareulype berberata , Black-veined Moth Siona lineata , Fiery Clearwing Pyropteron chrysidiformis , New Forest Burnet Zygaena viciae argyllensis , Reddish