The conservation of the belted beauty Lycia zonaria britannica (Lepidoptera, Geometridae) in the United Kingdom

Recent surveys have established that the belted beauty moth Lycia zonaria britannica, which is an endemic subspecies found only in the British Isles, now occurs at just three sites in England and Wales. Populations at all three sites are small, with annual peak counts of usually less than 50 females. At Morfa Conwy in Wales and Meols Common in England, habitat quality has been declining for more than a decade as open, herb-rich, early successional dune grassland is replaced by fixed, rank grassland. Uniquely at Sunderland Point in England, the moth is primarily associated with areas of saltmarsh, but distribution is constrained by surrounding farmland and man-made structures. Attempts are now being made to restore areas of open grassland and to return the moth to its former distribution. Since the winter of 2000-2001, small plots of rank grassland on Meols Common have been excavated annually, with all vegetation removed, together with any humic layer present. The exposed bare sand has then been allowed to re-vegetate naturally. Within 18 months, the plots have developed into open, herb-rich habitats suitable for the moth. Adults were recorded on the plots for the first time in spring 2003 and may have been the product of the small numbers of eggs and larvae introduced to the plots in spring 2002. Similar excavations have been initiated at Morfa Conwy, which is in the process of being notified as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). A 3-year programme to establish a second Welsh population is underway and, to date, more than 2000 captive-reared larvae have been released on the receptor site which lies 21 km to the east of Morfa Conwy.