Latest news with #PatrickCook
BBC News
19-02-2025
- Science
- BBC News
The mission to help save one of Scotland's smallest moths
A big search is on across Scotland to find one of its smallest species - a Highland nymph is just a few millimetres in length, but don't be mistaken, Patrick Cook, who is an ecologist at the wildlife charity Butterfly Conservation, says they are "small but very tough".Experts are worried about its population here in the UK, though. Before a colony was found by the charity in 2024, one hadn't been spotted in Scotland for 20 charity is now asking people to help save it from extinction. The species is nicknamed the Alpine coffee moth because of its coffee-like colouring and its habitat in the can be found in the Alps and Scandinavia and was first spotted in the UK in 1983. They are very rare here, though, with experts saying now they are found in just three locations in the mountains of species' caterpillars feed on the leaves of some mountain willow, which has become a problem. Patrick Cook says "the plants that the caterpillars feed on are no longer found in the area".Experts are worried about the moth's population in the UK because animals like deer and sheep are eating away at their habitat. A team from Butterfly Conservation rediscovered a colony of around 30 to 40 moths last Highland nymph has only ever been found at 10 locations in the UK. Patrick said the charity is planning on visiting a number of them to work out if the moth is still found charity is now working to try to save the moth in Scotland, working with landowners to look at the possibility of planting more willows for them to live also working with other organisations to search mountainous areas of Scotland to find evidence of other colonies and running online sessions to help teach people what to look said it could be difficult, however, for children to help out with Highland nymphs in particular because of where they are don't worry, he says "children can definitely play a big part in helping moths in general in their local area" by doing things like planting food plants for the insects.
The Independent
17-02-2025
- General
- The Independent
Nature lovers urged to join hunt for rare miniscule moth in Scottish mountains
People are being urged to join the search for one of Scotland's smallest species – a moth just a few millimetres long – to help save it from UK extinction. The tiny Highland nymph, which is also nicknamed the Alpine coffee moth because of its cappuccino colours and its habitat in the mountains, is on the edge of extinction in Britain in the face of dwindling habitat. The species, which is found in the Alps and Scandinavia and was only recorded in the UK for the first time in 1983, lives on two species of mountain willows, where its caterpillars eat the inside of leaves. While ecologists had logged the species in suitable habitat the 1990s, it had not been seen in Scotland for 20 years until a team from wildlife charity Butterfly Conservation rediscovered it in 2024 in a colony that had just 30 to 40 individuals. The charity is appealing for volunteers to join a Scotland-wide search for more colonies. And with concerns the moth is on the edge of extinction in the UK because of grazing animals eating away at their habitat, experts are calling for action to manage deer and sheep populations to prevent further loss of willows and allow woodlands to regenerate. The moth has only ever been found at 10 locations in three glens in the Cairngorms National Park: Glen Callater, Glen Clova and Glen Doll, and when Butterfly Conservation started looking for the species in March 2022, the willows the moths lived on had disappeared from some of the old sites. Butterfly Conservation ecologist Patrick Cook said: 'When we first started looking for this moth a few years ago it wasn't really part of our work, it was just because a group of us really wanted to see one but, in some sites where the species was previously found, there was no longer suitable habitat – it then became a real mission to find the moth.' The team went 'up in the hills in all conditions', in what he described as the most challenging survey work Butterfly Conservation had done, eventually finding a small population in Corrie Sharroch, in NatureScot's Corrie Fee national nature reserve in April last year. Butterfly Conservation is working on initiatives to help the moth, including work with landowners to look at small-scale planting of willows near the existing site. The charity and other organisations are hoping to co-ordinate a widespread search across mountainous areas of Scotland to find any evidence of other colonies of the Highland nymph, including running an online training session in the spring to tell people what to look out for. Mr Cook said: 'Finding any more colonies could be extremely difficult but, given the remote locations of the moth, it is an exciting possibility. We must accelerate mountain woodland restoration and revive Scotland's altitudinal treeline before it's too late to save the Alpine coffee moth and other threatened species Sarah Watts, Mountain Woodland Action Group 'Even if we do, the species is still facing serious threats in Scotland – but it could buy us some valuable extra time to save this fantastic moth from extinction in the UK.' Sarah Watts, PhD researcher at the University of Stirling and chair of the Mountain Woodland Action Group, said she was 'absolutely delighted' the moth had been rediscovered but its current status showed how important mountain willow species were for supporting rare upland wildlife. 'We must accelerate mountain woodland restoration and revive Scotland's altitudinal treeline before it's too late to save the Alpine coffee moth and other threatened species. 'This action urgently requires management for low-density, large herbivore populations to remove the pressure of overgrazing at a landscape-scale and enable the regeneration of trees and shrubs across our mountains,' she urged.
Yahoo
17-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Nature lovers urged to join hunt for rare miniscule moth in Scottish mountains
People are being urged to join the search for one of Scotland's smallest species – a moth just a few millimetres long – to help save it from UK extinction. The tiny Highland nymph, which is also nicknamed the Alpine coffee moth because of its cappuccino colours and its habitat in the mountains, is on the edge of extinction in Britain in the face of dwindling habitat. The species, which is found in the Alps and Scandinavia and was only recorded in the UK for the first time in 1983, lives on two species of mountain willows, where its caterpillars eat the inside of leaves. While ecologists had logged the species in suitable habitat the 1990s, it had not been seen in Scotland for 20 years until a team from wildlife charity Butterfly Conservation rediscovered it in 2024 in a colony that had just 30 to 40 individuals. The charity is appealing for volunteers to join a Scotland-wide search for more colonies. And with concerns the moth is on the edge of extinction in the UK because of grazing animals eating away at their habitat, experts are calling for action to manage deer and sheep populations to prevent further loss of willows and allow woodlands to regenerate. The moth has only ever been found at 10 locations in three glens in the Cairngorms National Park: Glen Callater, Glen Clova and Glen Doll, and when Butterfly Conservation started looking for the species in March 2022, the willows the moths lived on had disappeared from some of the old sites. Butterfly Conservation ecologist Patrick Cook said: 'When we first started looking for this moth a few years ago it wasn't really part of our work, it was just because a group of us really wanted to see one but, in some sites where the species was previously found, there was no longer suitable habitat – it then became a real mission to find the moth.' The team went 'up in the hills in all conditions', in what he described as the most challenging survey work Butterfly Conservation had done, eventually finding a small population in Corrie Sharroch, in NatureScot's Corrie Fee national nature reserve in April last year. Butterfly Conservation is working on initiatives to help the moth, including work with landowners to look at small-scale planting of willows near the existing site. The charity and other organisations are hoping to co-ordinate a widespread search across mountainous areas of Scotland to find any evidence of other colonies of the Highland nymph, including running an online training session in the spring to tell people what to look out for. Mr Cook said: 'Finding any more colonies could be extremely difficult but, given the remote locations of the moth, it is an exciting possibility. 'Even if we do, the species is still facing serious threats in Scotland – but it could buy us some valuable extra time to save this fantastic moth from extinction in the UK.' Sarah Watts, PhD researcher at the University of Stirling and chair of the Mountain Woodland Action Group, said she was 'absolutely delighted' the moth had been rediscovered but its current status showed how important mountain willow species were for supporting rare upland wildlife. 'We must accelerate mountain woodland restoration and revive Scotland's altitudinal treeline before it's too late to save the Alpine coffee moth and other threatened species. 'This action urgently requires management for low-density, large herbivore populations to remove the pressure of overgrazing at a landscape-scale and enable the regeneration of trees and shrubs across our mountains,' she urged.
