Press Release Vote Moths moths count too

[Neil Jones]

The following is a press release from Butterfly Conservation in Wales.
It was dated yesterday 2nd May 2007. The voting reference is to the
elections for the National Assembly for Wales which take place today 3rd
May.
In reference to recent discussion about lepidoptera populations it is
interesting to note the quote from Sir David Attenborough who is one of
the world's most famous and well respected naturalists. “We must reverse
these declines. If we don’t, the outlook is grim. The consequences for
Britain’s wildlife would be too dire to contemplate.”

( As a reminder to any newcomers who may not be entirely familiar with
the geography. Wales is together with England, Scotland and Northern
Ireland, one of the constituent nations of the United Kingdom.) 

Neil Jones
Neil at nwjones.demon.co.uk http://www.butterflyguy.com/




Vote Moths:  
Moths Count too 
While you’re waiting to vote tomorrow spare a thought for moths. Why?
Well today Sir David Attenborough launches Moths Count, the first of a
series of new projects by the charity Butterfly Conservation to help
reverse the decline in Britain’s moth population. 
The alarming extent of the decline was revealed in a report, The State
of Britain’s Larger Moths, published last year. As well as being
fascinating in their own right, moths are integral to Wales’
biodiversity. Their loss threatens the future of numerous species of
birds, bats and small mammals that feed on them.
Moths Count provides an opportunity for thousands of volunteers to get
up close to moths and will be the largest such moth project anywhere in
the world. For the first time data gathered at a local level will used
to obtain a Wales and UK picture. By identifying precisely what species
are in decline and where, it is hoped to be able to put in place
appropriate conservation measures.
President of Butterfly Conservation Sir David Attenborough said: “We
must reverse these declines. If we don’t, the outlook is grim. The
consequences for Britain’s wildlife would be too dire to contemplate.”  
Moths Count Project Manager Richard Fox said: “Currently moths have an
image problem. That’s partly because moths are perceived to be of the
night, although many moths are day-flying just like butterflies and just
as beautiful too.  There are also all those references to moths eating
clothes, which go right back to the Bible. The reality is that only six
of Britain’s 2,500 species of moths damage clothes. We need to change
these perceptions.”
Russel Hobson of Butterfly Conservation Wales said: “There has been a
huge surge in interest in moths in Wales over the last eight years.
Moths Count will be a great opportunity for more people to get to know
more about moths and become involved in moth recording and conservation
work in Wales.”
Moths Count is being launched at the Huxley Lecture Theatre at London
Zoo with many events planned around Wales over the summer. 

Five facts about moths
1.Of the 337 common moth species assessed for The State of Britain’s
Larger Moths report, the Dusky Thorn had the highest rate of decline (98
per cent). If Britain’s human population of 55 million in 1968 had
undergone a similar decrease to that of the Dusky Thorn we would be left
today with only enough people to populate Merthyr Tydfil, 

2.Moths are integral to the food chains of Britain’s wildlife. For
instance, the four most common garden birds all feed on moths or their
caterpillars. In many cases they are eaten by nestlings as well as by
adult birds. All 16 British species of bat feed on moths to some extent.
Sir David Attenborough is anxious that moths are seen as more than just
food for other creatures. He writes: “They are fascinating to study and
worthy of conservation in their own right.” 
3.Moths are very closely related to butterflies, but whereas there are
only around 60 species of butterfly seen regularly in the UK there are
some 2,500 species of moths. They are artificially split into two
groups, the so-called larger moths (macro-moths) and the smaller moths
(micro-moths). Around 900 species of larger moth have been recorded in
this country.
4.Moths are one of the largest insect groups both in Britain and
globally. Estimates of the total number of moth species on earth range
from around 115,000 to over 150,000.
5.Collecting moths was a fashionable pursuit in the early 1700s and many
of the vernacular names still in use today were coined at this time.
There has been a significant resurgence of interest in moths in recent
years and the number of people recording moths in Britain has probably
never been higher.

Myths about moths
Moths have always suffered from bad PR. Their first bad press was in the
Bible: “So man wastes away like something rotten, like a garment eaten
by moths,” Job13: 28, and  “Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten
your clothes,” James 27:18”. 
Myth: All moths eat clothes
Reality: Only about half a dozen of Britain’s 2,500 moth species eat
clothes. And the ones that do eat them really prefer dirty clothes that
are hidden away in the dark in places where they are not disturbed.
Myth: Moths are nocturnal and only fly by night
Reality: It is true that most species fly by night but many, such as the
Speckled Yellow, fly by day.
Myth: All moths are drab and hairy compared with butterflies 
Reality: Many moth species are very colourful, such as the brightly
patterned tiger moths. Others are less so, but on closer inspection
cryptic patterns can be seen which have evolved to aid camouflage. Again
some species of moth are hairy or furry, but some butterflies have hairy
or furry bodies too.


Notes for editors
Butterfly Conservation is the UK charity taking action to save
butterflies and moths.  Butterfly Conservation staff and volunteers
manage habitats to ensure their survival, with particular attention
being given to threatened species. 
Butterfly Conservation has 12,000 members and is the largest
organisation of its kind in Europe: www.butterfly-conservation.org.uk
For further information regarding Moths Count contact: Richard Fox,
Surveys Manager, Butterfly Conservation. Phone 01626 368385  


For Wales related information contact: Russel Hobson, Senior
Conservation Officer, Butterfly Conservation Wales. Phone 01792 642972.
Mobile 07736 229593. 

Lester Cowling, Publicity Officer, Butterfly Conservation. Phone 01929
406008 Mobile 07976 363546 
Butterfly Conservation is a registered charity and non-profit-making
company limited by guarantee. Registered Office: Manor Yard, East
Lulworth, Wareham, Dorset BH20 5QP Registered in England No 2206468 –
Registered Charity No 254937



 
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