Six Moth priorities for 2008:

1. Chalk Carpet (UK BAP Priority): A national survey is underway to assess the species' status.

ACTION: Any daytime searches in Lancashire would be really welcomed. All records to be forwarded as soon as possible after find.

2. Argent & Sable (UK BAP Priority): We have no recent records of this day-flying moth (which can also be found as a larva in spinnings on bog myrtle or birch) from Lancashire. Recent records have come from Cheshire, Cumbria, and Yorkshire

ACTION: Attempt to locate colonies in areas where extensive young birch growth occurs and/or areas of Bog Myrtle are found.

3. Barred Tooth-striped (UK BAP Priority): Perhaps one for the light-trappers, although larvae can also be found. Associated with wild privet, but probably also with ash.

ACTION: Try to locate new sites for the species but records from existing sites (in the Silverdale area) are welcomed.

4. Anania funebris (UK BAP Priority): A micro, but an obvious day-flying species and one of the new UK BAP Priorities announced in 2007. Associated with golden-rod. Known sites in Lancashire are Gait Barrows, Yealand Hall Allotments and Warton Crag. Any limestone areas in the county are worth looking at.

ACTION: Survey of potential and existing sites to try to gain a better understanding of the moths' distribution.

5. Northern Dart (UK BAP Priority): There have been no records from northern England for many years. Supposedly more frequently found in northern England in odd years. It is a mountain-top species with records from Cumbria and Northumberland. Can be found as larvae.

ACTION: Encourage searches of potential sites. Can the moth still be found in northern England?

6. Belted Beauty (UK BAP Priority): this species is really struggling at its Welsh and other English site.

ACTION: The one colony in Lancashire at Sunderland Point needs annual monitoring of the adults in April and the larvae in June. Any records are welcome and should include precise location information.

Please send details of any of the above to

Chris Darbyshire (darby.moth1@btopenworld.com)

Or

Steve Palmer (s.palmer12@btopenworld.com)

as soon as possible after the finds.