Introductions of two insect species threatened by sea‐level rise in Essex, United Kingdom: Fisher's estuarine moth Gortyna borelii lunata (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) and Mottled grasshopper Myrmeleotettix maculatus (Orthoptera: Acrididae)
-
Published source details
Gardiner T., Ringwood Z., Fairweather G., Perry R. & Woodrow L. (2017) Introductions of two insect species threatened by sea‐level rise in Essex, United Kingdom: Fisher's estuarine moth Gortyna borelii lunata (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) and Mottled grasshopper Myrmeleotettix maculatus (Orthoptera: Acrididae). International Zoo Yearbook, 51, 69-78.
Published source details Gardiner T., Ringwood Z., Fairweather G., Perry R. & Woodrow L. (2017) Introductions of two insect species threatened by sea‐level rise in Essex, United Kingdom: Fisher's estuarine moth Gortyna borelii lunata (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) and Mottled grasshopper Myrmeleotettix maculatus (Orthoptera: Acrididae). International Zoo Yearbook, 51, 69-78.
Actions
This study is summarised as evidence for the following.
| Action | Category | |
|---|---|---|
|
Release captive-bred individuals to the wild Action Link |
 |
|
|
Rear declining species in captivity Action Link |
|
-
Release captive-bred individuals to the wild
A study in 2009–2016 in six coastal grasslands in Essex, UK (Gardiner et al 2017) reported that released captive-bred Fisher’s estuarine moths Gortyna borelii lunata established populations and bred at all sites, in some cases for seven years. Six populations resulting from the release of captive Fisher’s estuarine moths were present for up to seven years, and breeding was confirmed at all sites (sometimes in all seven years). Numbers of individuals and years of confirmed breeding events at each site are not provided. In March–April 2009–2016, blades of grass containing eggs from a captive breeding programme were placed next to hog’s fennel Peucedanum officinale plants at each of the six sites. Later each year some caterpillars which were not needed for the continuation for the captive breeding programmes were also introduced to each site. Two sites received eggs and caterpillars in two years, and four only in one year (years of release at each site not provided). Between mid-July and mid-August each year hog’s fennel plants at each site were searched for distinctive feeding signs to confirm presence of the moth.
(Summarised by: Eleanor Bladon)
-
Rear declining species in captivity
A study in 2008–2016 in a zoo in Essex, UK (Gardiner et al 2017) reported that Fisher’s estuarine moth Gortyna borelii lunata eggs collected from the field successfully survived to adulthood, bred successfully in captivity and the resulting captive population continued for at least eight generations. Data on survival and breeding success were not provided. In 2008, ten batches of Fisher’s estuarine moth eggs were collected from a natural population and placed in 2 m3 stainless steel mesh cages. In April–May, post-hatching, caterpillars were placed in cages containing one or two potted hog’s fennel Peucedanum officinale plants, with 1–2 caterpillars/cage. In September–October, as adults, they were placed in cages containing a potted hog’s fennel plant and coarse grass to mate and lay eggs (numbers/cage not provided). In March, some eggs were placed in pots in a cold frame until they hatched and used to continue the captive breeding programme and some were translocated to six sites in Essex as part of a reintroduction plan (proportions of eggs kept and reintroduced not provided). Every three years after 2008, eggs were collected from the original donor site to supplement the captive-bred population (numbers of eggs not provided).
(Summarised by: Eleanor Bladon)
)_2023.JPG)
