Conservation management of Gortyna borelii lunata (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in the United Kingdom
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Published source details
Ringwood Z., Hill J. & Gibson C. (2004) Conservation management of Gortyna borelii lunata (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in the United Kingdom. Journal of Insect Conservation, 8, 173-183.
Published source details Ringwood Z., Hill J. & Gibson C. (2004) Conservation management of Gortyna borelii lunata (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in the United Kingdom. Journal of Insect Conservation, 8, 173-183.
Actions
This study is summarised as evidence for the following.
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Change mowing regime on grassland Action Link |
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Translocate to re-establish populations in known or believed former range Action Link |
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Change mowing regime on grassland
A replicated, paired, controlled, before-and-after study in 2000–2002 in a coastal grassland in Essex, UK (Ringwood et al. 2004) found that mowing in August reduced the abundance of Fisher’s estuarine moth Gortyna borelii lunata caterpillars, but mowing in November and not mowing did not affect caterpillar numbers. One–two years after mowing in August, the number of hog’s fennel Peucedanum officinale plants showing signs of caterpillar feeding was lower than before mowing (0.26–0.29 fewer plants/m2). However, the number of plants with feeding signs after mowing in November was not significantly lower than before mowing (0.10–0.24 fewer plants/m2). In unmown areas, the number of plants with feeding signs was not significantly different one (0.04 fewer plants/m2) or two (0.10 more plants/m2) years after mowing at the other sites compared to before mowing. A grassland behind a sea wall was divided into three blocks, each sub-divided into three 84-m2 areas. In 2000–2002, areas were either mown with a tractor-drawn mower in late August, cut with a hand-held strimmer in November, or left unmown. Grass was cut to 10 cm with the cuttings left on site. No mowing had been conducted for >5 years prior to the experiment. In May–August 2000–2002, caterpillar feeding signs were recorded monthly on plants in two randomly-placed 1-m2 plots/treatment.
(Summarised by: Andrew Bladon)
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Translocate to re-establish populations in known or believed former range
A study in 2000–2003 in a coastal grassland in Essex, UK (Ringwood et al. 2004) reported that a translocated population of Fisher’s estuarine moth Gortyna borelii lunata survived for at least three years. One–three years after the translocation of 300 eggs, 50–54% of 24 established hog’s fennel Peucedanum officinale plants had signs of caterpillar feeding. The proportion of plants with signs of caterpillars feeding in the roots was 29% after one year, 38% after two years, and 42% after three years. In February 2000, twenty-five mature hog’s fennel plants were translocated to a 125-m2 unimproved coastal grassland, and one was planted every 4 m2. A rabbit-proof fence was erected around the site. In October 2000, around 300 moth eggs were placed in two clusters at the site. In July 2001–2003, the number of plants with signs of caterpillars feeding was recorded.
(Summarised by: Andrew Bladon)
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