Breeding UK Moths for Release

[Spiritwood]

Forgive me if this topic has already been covered elsewhere on the site (I haven't been able to find any previous mention), but does anyone here breed UK Moths to release in order to boost the declining local population?

I'm attempting to rear Eyed Hawk Moths and hopefully Garden Tigers this year and would be interested in hearing from anyone else who might be doing something similar.

Thanks

[Gill Catton]

Originally Posted by Spiritwood

Forgive me if this topic has already been covered elsewhere on the site (I haven't been able to find any previous mention), but does anyone here breed UK Moths to release in order to boost the declining local population?

I'm attempting to rear Eyed Hawk Moths and hopefully Garden Tigers this year and would be interested in hearing from anyone else who might be doing something similar.

Thanks

my thoughts would be that any decline in moth numbers would be caused by decline in habitats quality or extent and you'd be far better off trying to improve habitats than by releasing adults that are likely to run into whatever problem is causing the decline rather than improving the population.

The other thing to consider is where are the eggs and or larvae coming from? If you're rearing eggs found locally its probably less of an issue but European sub-species may be quite different and may operate on a slighting different biological cycle attuned to plant availability in their home range rather than the cycles that exist here - you may then be introducing genes into a British population that may make it less suited to life here potentially making its situation overall situation worse.

My thoughts would be contact your local wildlife trust or even buglife for advice on how you can help or if captive breeding is helpful, hunt out good reserves for moths and enjoy them where they already are and if you want to breed moths in captivity - keep them in captivity.

[macro junkie]

i want to breed moths..to feed to my prayingmantids

[Spiritwood]

Duplicate response - sorry.

[Spiritwood]

Thanks Gill, an informative and helpful answer.

Habitat is of course of primary importance and was the first thing I concentrated on. I have ensured there are plenty of suitable food plants in our (large) wildlife garden and in the general locality - we have a large wooded Park at the bottom of our road.

I bought 10 Eyed Hawkmoth Pupae from Worldwide Butterflies and they are to send 10 Garden Tiger larvae from a UK supplier in May as I didn't want to reduce the natural population in any way. Both were listed as UK species but after reading your message I've just emailed Robert to see if he can confirm this and he has already replied "Garden Tiger are British. Eyed are from Central Europe where there is no evidence of any geographical variation...". I don't want to keep any wild creature in captivity unnecessarily.

I've already emailed Roger Gaunt at The Gloucestershire Naturalists Society for further advice on what I can do to help support the local population of our Native Moths.

[Spiritwood]

I'm very grateful to Gill Catton for her advice, it's prevented me from making what could have been a real mistake. Please see the reply I've had from Mark at Butterfly Conservation below:

"Thanks for approaching us about this. I don't wish to sound unduly negative but, to put it bluntly, I'm afraid this is not the sort of approach we would encourage. There is a Code for Insect Introductions (attached) which provides guidance, though this is currently undergoing a revision.

Firstly the chances are that for each species you give the available habitat in your area is supporting as many of these species as is possible (although in the case of the Garden Tiger it is likely to be climate change that is affecting its national population, so available habitat may not be the issue). You mention you have a wildlife garden, that is a good approach. Most widespread species (such as these) are mobile and will find and colonise available suitable habitat. Avoid over-managing that garden thereby giving species with annual life cycles a chance to complete their life cycle, though I suspect you are already aware of this. I don't know if you run a light trap, but it is possible both these species are already in your area at the population levels that the available habitat can support. There can be a huge variety of species breeding in gardens, much of this not seen by us humans!

An additional issue to be aware of is that by releasing species it does cloud the picture with recording, if for example either species does not naturally occur in your area and someone else recorded one of those released, it could give a false impression of how well that species is doing."

I've cancelled my order for Garden Tigers and will give up my plans to rear and release UK Moths. Dissappointed sure but far better a little disappointment then end up doing harm through good intentions.

Thanks again and I hope this helps others who might think to do the same.

[Gill Catton]

Originally Posted by Spiritwood

I'm very grateful to Gill Catton for her advice, it's prevented me from making what could have been a real mistake. Please see the reply I've had from Mark at Butterfly Conservation below:

"Thanks for approaching us about this. I don't wish to sound unduly negative but, to put it bluntly, I'm afraid this is not the sort of approach we would encourage. There is a Code for Insect Introductions (attached) which provides guidance, though this is currently undergoing a revision.

Firstly the chances are that for each species you give the available habitat in your area is supporting as many of these species as is possible (although in the case of the Garden Tiger it is likely to be climate change that is affecting its national population, so available habitat may not be the issue). You mention you have a wildlife garden, that is a good approach. Most widespread species (such as these) are mobile and will find and colonise available suitable habitat. Avoid over-managing that garden thereby giving species with annual life cycles a chance to complete their life cycle, though I suspect you are already aware of this. I don't know if you run a light trap, but it is possible both these species are already in your area at the population levels that the available habitat can support. There can be a huge variety of species breeding in gardens, much of this not seen by us humans!

An additional issue to be aware of is that by releasing species it does cloud the picture with recording, if for example either species does not naturally occur in your area and someone else recorded one of those released, it could give a false impression of how well that species is doing."

I've cancelled my order for Garden Tigers and will give up my plans to rear and release UK Moths. Dissappointed sure but far better a little disappointment then end up doing harm through good intentions.

Thanks again and I hope this helps others who might think to do the same.

No problem at all, I just know how awful it can feel if you're genuinely trying to do some good and it worksout that actually its the opposite but its too late, you've already done it!

You can still enjoy the moths that you have and might get a few suprises that put a big grin on your face! There are a few threads about making your own moth trap for example and find things you never knew were in the area - I had huge numbers of beautiful bright yellow brimstone moths, a poplar hawkmoth last year and a big old dor beetle in addition to all soorts of other moths that I amstill learning!

You could also try joining butterly conservation (not sure if there's a stand alone moth group) and then get involved in their local mothing events and have the chance to learn from experts about all sorts of moths. Also keep an eye on the events forum here as we have a few mothing events that you might be interested in.

[Spiritwood]

Originally Posted by Gill Catton

You could also try joining butterly conservation (not sure if there's a stand alone moth group) and then get involved in their local mothing events and have the chance to learn from experts about all sorts of moths. Also keep an eye on the events forum here as we have a few mothing events that you might be interested in.

Hi Gill, Coincidently I sent in my application to join Butterfly Conservation yesterday after buying their 'State of British Moths' report.

[Gill Catton]

Originally Posted by Spiritwood

Hi Gill, Coincidently I sent in my application to join Butterfly Conservation yesterday after buying their 'State of British Moths' report.

good for you, they're an excellent organisation and the magazine is good too!

[Stefan]

I used to see an excess of moths in the garden - I haven't even seen one this year and I only saw one last year aswell

Its such a shame that a lot of British species seem to be on the decline (Crayfish, Moths, Bees, etc)

[Spiritwood]

Originally Posted by Stefan

I used to see an excess of moths in the garden - I haven't even seen one this year and I only saw one last year aswell

Its such a shame that a lot of British species seem to be on the decline (Crayfish, Moths, Bees, etc)

Too many people are paving over their gardens, sadly and I'm sure that's having more of an effect than they realise.

I've seen a Amblyptilia acanthadactyla and two Early Greys so far this month though. One of the Early Greys likes to rest in the grout indentation between two particular Bricks in our porch. He's there every day at the moment so I went out to the Garden Centre to buy another Honeysuckle for them at the weekend.

Just orderd a Moth Trap to get a better idea of whats about so that I'll know what food and habitat plants I need to encourage in our Garden. Always glad to know our 'weeds' are good for something

[Wild-Woman]

Don't forget National Moth Night this year on 7th June. All records are of great importance. See link

national moth night

[Spiritwood]

Originally Posted by Wild-Woman

Don't forget National Moth Night this year on 7th June. All records are of great importance. See link

national moth night

Oooh no, I won't forget. Got that in my Diary already. Thanks for the reminder though