Slender Scotch Burnet Moth
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Slender Scotch Burnet Moth © J. Knowler/BCS Authors Tom Prescott Butterfly Conservation Scotland, Mill House, Mill Road, Kingussie, PH21 1LF. tprescott@butterfly-conservation.org Niall Campbell SAC Consulting (part of Scotland Rural College SRUC), Glencruitten Road, Oban, PA34 4DW. niall.campbell@sac.co.uk Richard Luxmoore National Trust for Scotland, Hermiston Quay, 5 Cultins Road, Edinburgh, EH11 4DF. rluxmoore@nts.org.uk Brigid Primrose Scottish Natural Heritage, Great Glen House, Leachkin Road, Inverness, IV3 8NW. brigid.primrose@snh.gov.uk
Summary managed specifically for slender scotch burnet
under SRDP, although the moth has not yet been
recorded from these sites.
• The day-flying slender scotch burnet moth
(Zygaena loti subspecies scotica) is currently • The success of this project is primarily due to the
only known in the UK from five populations co-operation and goodwill of the site landown-
on the islands of Mull, Ulva and Gometra in ers/managers and their agents and the willing-
western Scotland. Furthermore the subspecies ness to work together.
scotica is presumed to be endemic to Scotland,
not occurring anywhere else in the world.
• The moth occupies species-rich grassland areas
close to the coast, typically on sunny, south- Introduction
facing undercliffs. Most sites are maintained in
suitable condition by light, seasonal grazing
hence the fortunes of the moth are closely
linked to traditional agriculture.
• The main aim of the project therefore was
to deliver appropriate management advice
to benefit the moth. A steering group was
formed comprising Scottish Natural Heritage
(SNH), Forestry Commission Scotland (FCS)
and Butterfly Conservation Scotland (BCS),
who jointly funded a Project Officer to carry
this out. The role of the Project Officer also
included action for the two other Lepidoptera
listed in the Species Action Framework (SAF),
pearl-bordered fritillary (Boloria euphrosyne)
and marsh fritillary (Euphydryas aurinia),
as well as the chequered skipper butterfly
(Carterocephalus palaemon), an FCS priority Fig 1. Slender scotch burnet moth.
species.
© J. Knowler/BCS
• The project objectives were achieved by
working in close partnership with SAC
Consulting (Scottish Agricultural College, now Species background
part of Scotland’s Rural College, SRUC) to
provide site-specific management advice on Due to its great rarity, very limited distribution and
the moth to their clients, to help them gain declining population, the slender scotch burnet
entry into the Scotland Rural Development moth was listed as a UK Biodiversity Action Plan
Programme (SRDP) Rural Priorities (RP) scheme. (UK BAP) Priority species. It is also listed in the
Red Data Book as RDB3-Rare and included on
• During the course of the project all eight owner-
the Scottish Biodiversity List. The moth is currently
ships where slender scotch burnet moth had
only known in the UK from five populations on
been recorded were visited. Four of these are
the islands of Mull, Ulva and Gometra in western
now being managed specifically for the moth
Scotland (Fig. 2) occurring in seven different, but
under SRDP, whilst management was also
adjacent, 10-km squares. Prior to 1945, the moth
undertaken on two others using SAF project
was also present on the Scottish mainland across
funding. The remaining two are not ideally
the Sound of Mull on Morvern, where it is now
suited to SRDP although fortunately there are
believed to be extinct. The subspecies scotica is As
currently no pressing management issues.
with other threatened Lepidoptera the declining
• During the course of the project one new fortunes of this species are believed to be the result
population was discovered and the moth was of habitat loss as well as inappropriate habitat
also found to be far more widespread at two management. This is coupled with the need for
of its major populations. A further nine sites sufficient area and networks of habitat for the
adjacent to, or close to, known colonies that moth to form meta-populations, where losses and
have suitable habitat are also now being
even extinctions at one colony can be balanced General ecology
by gains and recolonisation from neighbouring
colonies. The slender scotch burnet moth inhabits low under-
cliffs and grassy banks at or near to the coast.
presumed to be endemic to Scotland, being unique
and distinctive from the various subspecies that
occur across the continent.
Fig 3. Classic slender scotch burnet moth habitat -
steep, south-facing undercliffs.
© SNH
It is usually restricted to slopes with a sunny,
south or south-west facing aspect and underlying
basalt rock where its larval foodplant, bird’s-foot
trefoil (Lotus corniculatus), grows in an open sward.
Both the moth and the larval foodplant favour an
early stage of vegetation succession, with short
vegetation and pockets of bare ground. This
Fig 2. Distribution of slender scotch burnet moth. provides a warm micro-climate that is essential for
Post-2000 (green dots) and 1980-1999 (orange both the larvae and the adults.
dots). The green dots are overlain on the orange The adults, which have a wingspan of 25-35mm,
dots, so any orange dots showing are sites without are most easily observed and monitored in warm,
recent records. sunny weather between mid-June and the end
The moth’s ecology and management require- of July. In poor weather they can often be found
ments are fairly well understood and therefore perching on stems, or taking shelter lower down
suitable management practices can be applied amongst the vegetation. Adult males spend a
to enhance its habitat and populations. Slender proportion of their time flying around seeking
scotch burnet moth was therefore an ideal candi- females who tend to perch, nectaring mainly on
date for SAF status since it is a threatened species the larval foodplant, but also on other flowers
whose ecology is well known, only surviving in such as milkwort (Polygala spp.), common cat’s-ear
the UK at a handful of small sites, all in Scotland. (Hypochaeris radicata) and wild thyme (Thymus
However, conservation action for slender scotch polytrichus). The eggs are laid in a single-layered
burnet moth has to be done at a landscape scale batch in late June to early July. Overwintering
and requires positive engagement with landowners takes place as larvae and they attain full growth
and land managers. This will also be beneficial to around late May of the following year. The larvae
other wildlife that shares its habitat. (Fig. 4) bask on bare soil, rocks and moss cushions
around the larval foodplant in good weather.
Action before the
Species Action Framework
Prior to SAF, work on slender scotch burnet moth
was overseen by the Burnet Study Group (BSG).
However, BCS had also undertaken various activi-
ties and already had good contact with most of
the colony owners, as well as raising awareness of
the moth on the island through hosting events and
writing articles in the local press. Local volunteers
had been recruited to undertake surveys, recording
and monitoring of the moth. On Ardmeanach
peninsula work on slender scotch burnet was led
by the National Trust for Scotland (NTS), whose
Burg property holds the largest and most impor-
tant population in the UK. This is reflected in the
Fig.4. Slender scotch burnet moth larva. site being part of the Ardmeanach SSSI for which
© Tom Prescott/BCS
slender scotch burnet moth is a notified feature.
A colour leaflet Learn About Scotland’s Burnet
A proportion of the larvae re-enter diapause after and Forester Moths had also been produced aimed
emerging from hibernation. This is a beneficial at both recorders and land managers. It provides
strategy and reduces the risks of in-breeding as useful information on slender scotch burnet moth
well as acting as an insurance policy against poor - its life-cycle, identification, ecology and habitat
Scottish summers. It is not known how many times management requirements.
they can repeat this but it may explain some of the
large annual fluctuations that can occur in adult
populations. The larvae pupate in late May to
early June in a cocoon that is spun on the ground,
concealed amongst grass and other vegetation. Aims
Habitat management Aims and objectives for 2007-2012
Slender scotch burnet sites are best managed The overall aim of the project was to influence land
as species-rich grassland with a spring/summer management to enhance the habitat for slender
grazing break to maintain and enhance floristic scotch burnet moth, rather than to undertake
diversity. Grazing by sheep and cattle is preferred research, survey and/or monitoring. The key objec-
as sheep produce a short sward which creates the tives were to:
all-important warmer micro-climate favoured by • Ensure that all known populations are in favour-
both adults and larvae, whilst the heavier cattle able long-term management, principally under
allow small areas of bare ground to develop in the SRDP Rural Priorities.
sward through light poaching, which benefits both
basking larvae and the establishment of bird’s-foot • Maintain populations at existing sites and
trefoil. Some of the more remote sites are probably increase the area of slender scotch burnet moth
maintained in suitable condition by deer and wild habitat.
goats. In the absence of sufficient grazing, bracken • Raise awareness and appreciation of slender
(Pteridium aquilinum) and scrub encroachment scotch burnet moth and its requirements.
can be very detrimental. On steeper terrain and
undercliffs, the natural instability of the cliffs helps
maintain habitat condition through landslips and
rockfalls. This creates areas of bare ground that in
time are slowly colonised by bird’s-foot trefoil.
At one slender scotch burnet site non-native coto-
neaster (Cotoneaster sp.) is steadily encroaching
into the species-rich grassland reducing the area of
suitable habitat for the moth.
Management Action Initial plans and success
through partnership
Summary of the main actions The very restricted range of the moth, along with
carried out previous contact by BCS with most of the site
owners, meant that it was a comparatively easy
process to plan and undertake visits to identify
The objectives were addressed through the management issues. Fortunately this coincided
following: with the launch of the RP scheme under SRDP. The
approach used to deliver successful RP applica-
• Specialist adviser – a Project Officer was
tions for marsh fritillary, by working in partnership
employed to provide specialist advice.
with SAC Consulting and other key agents, was
• Bringing land into suitable management therefore adopted for slender scotch burnet moth.
under SRDP Rural Priorities – the Project This was made easier as SAC Consulting are the
Officer assisted landowners/managers, through main agents for landowners seeking entry into RP
their agents, to gain entry into Rural Priorities on Mull. The Project Officer therefore took on the
and ensure appropriate management at suit- role of specialist adviser, and was directed by SAC
able sites. Consulting to owners on Mull interested in gaining
• Specific management activities – activities entry into RP. This required site visits to see if there
ineligible or impractical to fund under SRDP was suitable or potential habitat for slender scotch
were undertaken by using contractors and/or burnet moth on their land and to work together on
volunteers. This included fencing and control of an RP application. Successful applicants receive
cotoneaster, scrub and bracken. an annual payment rate per hectare of land being
managed and this lasts for five years.
• Awareness raising – the BCS colour leaflet
Learn About Scotland’s Burnet and Forester
Moths was updated and reprinted and the
project promoted via various talks and press
Results
articles. During the course of the project all eight owner-
ships where slender scotch burnet moth had been
recorded since 2000 were visited, and all are
Steering Group and Project Officer now aware of the moth and its habitat require-
ments. Four of these are now being managed
A steering group was formed in 2008 comprising
specifically for slender scotch burnet moth under
SNH, FCS and BCS. This group jointly funded a
SRDP, whilst management has also been under-
Project Officer, employed by BCS, to encourage
taken on a further two using SAF project funding.
appropriate action on the ground for slender
The remaining two are not ideally suited to being
scotch burnet moth. NTS also joined the steering
managed under SRDP but currently there are no
group because of the important colonies they
management issues at these sites.
manage on their property at Burg. The Project
Officer’s role included action for the two other During the course of the SAF project one
SAF-listed Lepidoptera, marsh fritillary and pearl- new population was discovered, at Glengorm,
bordered fritillary, and for chequered skipper, bringing the total to five populations: Glengorm,
which is listed as a priority species in the Scottish Langamull, Kilninian, Ulva and Ardmeanach. The
Forestry Strategy. The group met once or twice a moth was also recorded on Gometra for the first
year to review the work undertaken and to help time, extending the range of the Ulva popula-
steer future work on all four species. The work on tion. Additionally slender scotch burnet moth was
slender scotch burnet moth was also reviewed by found to be far more widespread at Ardmeanach,
the BSG at their annual meeting. Langamull and on Ulva. These new finds are
clearly shown by the green dots in Fig. 5 below.
Fig 5. Location of recently discovered slender Fig 6. Location of sites where management advice
scotch burnet moth colonies. Post-2000 (green dots), has been given to benefit slender scotch burnet
1980-1999 (orange dots). The orange dots are over- moth. The map shows distribution of moths post-
lain on top of the green dots, therefore, any green 1980 (orange dots), extant sites where manage-
dots showing are new post-2000 sites. ment has being undertaken (yellow triangles), sites
being managed for the moth with suitable habitat
A further nine sites adjacent or close to known
but where the moth has not been recorded (blue
colonies that have suitable habitat are now also
stars), and all other sites in the range of the moth
being managed specifically for slender scotch
where management advice has been delivered but
burnet moth under SRDP, although the moth has
no suitable habitat found (purple squares).
not yet been recorded from these sites. A further
28 sites on Mull were visited, primarily for marsh
fritillary assessments, but no suitable or potential
habitat for slender scotch burnet moth was found.
Site summaries
The location of all sites under each category, along
with the distribution of the moth, is shown in Fig. 6. This section summarises the management that has
been undertaken at all sites to benefit slender
scotch burnet moth during the project. Most
sites were managed under the RP Management
of species-rich grassland option under RP with
a bespoke grazing plan that included either a
summer grazing break, or greatly reduced stocking
rates over the summer, to enhance floristic diversity.
In some instances, depending on the surrounding
habitat, the Management of coastal heath or
Management of habitat mosaics option was used.
The sites are listed below from north to south. Kilninian*
Those marked with an asterisk* are sites where The slender scotch burnet moth colony at Kilninian
slender scotch burnet moth is known to be present. is threatened due to the encroachment of a non-
native invasive species of cotoneaster on the
Glengorm* steep, species-rich grassland undercliffs. Control of
The population on Glengorm Estate was discov- cotoneaster, unlike other non-native species such
ered during an SRDP site visit in 2010 to assess the as Rhododendron ponticum or Japanese knotweed
habitat on the estate for marsh fritillary. Slender (Fallopia japonica), is not eligible under SRDP
scotch burnet moth was found at five locations in funding. As a result its control has been undertaken
two different management units, at least 0.5 km by a combination of contractors and local volun-
apart. Both fields are now being managed specifi- teers using SAF project funding (Fig. 7).
cally for the moth under RP. However, in 2011 and
2012 further survey work found the moth to be
more widespread. The owner is aware of these
locations and hopefully they will be managed
sympathetically in the meantime.
Penmore
Penmore Farm lies around 1 km between the two
known populations at Glengorm and Langamull
in the north of Mull and can therefore act as an
ideal stepping stone to improve the links between
these two areas. However, despite the presence
of suitable habitat slender scotch burnet moth has
not been recorded from the site, but it is now being
managed under RP for the moth.
Langamull* Fig 7. Volunteers clearing cotoneaster at Kilninian to
benefit slender scotch burnet moth.
This population was discovered in 2006 and © Tom Prescott/BCS
comprises two sites, Langamull House and Port
Langamull. They are less than 1 km apart but under
different ownerships. The steep uneven terrain combined with the remote-
ness of the site meant that site-specific techniques
The Langamull House colony is not eligible for had to be developed if the control was to be
SRDP funding as it is not on actively managed successful. Different techniques were trialled,
agricultural land. However, with the owner’s including the use of power tools, and blanket
permission and SAF project funding, a contractor spraying with glyphosate of areas completely
controlled a small area of bracken and also dominated by cotoneaster. However, the most
repaired the perimeter fence to make the area practical site-specific solution found was cutting
stockproof. It was hoped that a local grazier would back the cotoneaster using hand tools (loppers and
then provide stock to lightly graze the two small secateurs) and then treating the cut stumps with
fields to enhance the habitat, but this has not been a 15% glyphosate solution. A coloured dye was
achieved at the time of writing. added to the chemical to help identify treated cut
Port Langamull lies within a large coastal area stems. Specialist rope-access contractors were also
that is being extensively grazed which will benefit brought in to control plants growing on the crags
the moth, but most of this land is not categorised as and steep inaccessible slopes (Fig. 8). The priority
inbye and therefore payment rates under SRDP are was always to ensure that cleared areas remain
too low to entice the owner to enter the land into cotoneaster-free and these were regularly checked
the scheme. However, one area has been enclosed for missed and re-seeding plants before new areas
and is being grazed seasonally to benefit the moth were tackled. Around 700 m of undercliff has been
whilst two adjacent sites are also being managed successfully cleared.
for the moth under RP.
successful RP scheme that includes a site-specific
grazing plan to enhance the inbye ground colonies,
and bracken control and increased grazing on
the hill ground colonies. In addition, liaison over
a woodland creation/expansion scheme ensured
that it did not impact on the island’s important moth
colonies. The owner of Gometra is very sympa-
thetic to the presence of the moth but the island is
not suited to SRDP, not having any stock or active
inbye ground. Also the site does not seem to be
currently under threat and is probably being kept
in suitable condition through deer grazing.
Ardmeanach*
The Ardmeanach peninsula holds the most signifi-
cant population of slender scotch burnet moth
in the UK. The component colonies are under
two ownerships, with those in the west being on
the NTS property at Burg. Both sites have been
successfully entered into RP with management
targeted at enhancing the habitat for the moth
through bracken control and grazing. Scrub control
has enhanced the habitat at two small adjacent
colonies in Slochd Wood and at the Scobull
Triangle by using volunteers, particularly partici-
Fig 8. Specialist rope-access contractors pants on NTS Thistle Camps. The volunteers on this
clearing cotoneaster. scheme have also greatly increased the surveying
© Tom Prescott/BCS
and monitoring activities on the peninsula and
found the moth to be more widespread with the
Excitingly around eight slender scotch burnet moths discovery of a number of new colonies.
were recorded from the site in 2012, the first time
since 2009 and the highest count this century! This Ross of Mull
work has also improved stock access to the under- Suitable habitat for slender scotch burnet moth was
cliffs which will help maintain the site in suitable found on two sites near Ardalanish on the Ross of
condition. Mull, although the moth has never been recorded
In addition four adjacent units have also success- from the Ross. Both sites are now being managed
fully entered land into RP specifically to enhance under SRDP to enhance this habitat in the hope
suitable/potential habitat for slender scotch burnet that the moth may colonise the site.
moth. In some cases this included applying site-
specific grazing plans whilst in others the manage- Morvern
ment focused on bracken control.
The moth was last recorded from Morvern in
1945 adjacent to the Sound of Mull. Site advisory
Ulva and Gometra* visits to two landowners where the moth may
During the course of the SAF project the status have formerly occurred found suitable habitat on
of the moth on Ulva and Gometra has greatly Ardtornish Estate on the steep undercliffs to the
improved. Prior to 2009 there were only two east of Ardtornish Point. This land, however, is in
colonies of slender scotch burnet moth on Ulva. a woodland scheme so is currently ineligible for
However, targeted surveys by the owner and volun- SRDP funding.
teers has improved our knowledge of the moth’s
distribution, showing it to be far more widespread
with a series of almost connected colonies, a
meta-population, along the entire south-facing side
of the island. The surveys also produced the first
confirmed records from Gometra. Ulva now has a
Lessons Learnt, Further suitable management through RP. Priority should
be given to sites that would improve connectiv-
Work and Future ity within or between the current populations.
Recommendations • Maintain contact with all owners in order to
sustain the current good relations and their
Lessons learnt favourable stance towards the moth.
The success of the project is almost solely due
to working in partnership with agents from SAC New and ongoing work
Consulting and the resulting co-operation and since SAF ended
enthusiasm of the landowners. This resulted in
the Project Officer acting as a specialist adviser Work on slender scotch burnet moth post-SAF has
to enhance and encourage RP applications continued, as before, under the auspices of the
specifically targeted at slender scotch burnet moth. BSG implemented by its members, particularly BCS,
This followed the blueprint developed for the SAF SNH and NTS.
marsh fritillary project and so the lessons outlined
in the marsh fritillary chapter of this handbook also Survey and monitoring
apply to this work on slender scotch burnet moth. Monitoring of the adult moth has continued at most
In particular the chapter sections headed Problems of the main colonies mainly through BCS, NTS and
and solutions, Lessons learnt, Specialist adviser, their volunteers. Moth numbers have fluctuated
Partnership working and SRDP are all very relevant but were probably slightly up in 2013. At both
to the moth Glengorm and Langamull the moth has been found
in further new areas, but no other new colonies
have been discovered.
Future recommendations Glengorm Estate appointed a ranger in 2013, part
of whose role will be to monitor the effects of the
Despite the success of this project further work is
prescribed management on both the moth and the
required, particularly at those sites that were ineli-
vegetation.
gible for management under RP. Our recommenda-
tions include:
Management
• Continue cotoneaster control at Kilninian.
Management as prescribed under RP, mainly
• Bring the remaining part of the Port Langamull seasonal grazing, has been applied at all sites with
site into suitable management. successful SRDP applications (i.e. the yellow trian-
• Establish suitable grazing at Langamull House. gles in Fig. 6). This required erection of fencing
around the inbye ground at the Burg before
• Ensure colonies on Ulva and Gometra are suffi-
controlled grazing could be done. A small herd of
ciently grazed.
Hebridean sheep has been put onto the hill ground
• Encourage suitable management at Slochd on Ulva to prevent the vegetation becoming too
Wood and the Scobull Triangle. rank. Bracken spraying to prevent further encroach-
• Encourage surveys at sites being managed for ment onto suitable moth habitat and improve the
the moth under RP but where there are currently grazing for livestock has also been undertaken
no records, particularly at Penmore and the on the Burg and adjacent Kilfinichen Estate. In
sites on the Ross of Mull, and at other suitable addition the grazing plan at the Burg has been
sites. Also encourage surveys on the mainland reviewed to give the grazier a clearer steer on
on Morvern. what is required in terms of number of stock and
exact timings.
• Establish base-line monitoring of vegetation and
adults at sites being managed under RP so that Additional cotoneaster has been cleared at the
the effects of management can be quantified. Kilninian site by contractors from Coille Alba and
These results will help to improve the quality of BCS volunteers. Also a free, three-day pesticide
future advice given. course, organised by Coille Alba and BCS, was
held on Mull in the hope of recruiting suitably
• Identify where there is suitable/potential habitat trained local contractors to continue the cotone-
on other sites on Mull, and across the Sound of aster clearance. This should reduce the cost of
Mull on Morvern, and try to bring them undercontrol through minimising travel and accommo- Burnet Conference
dation expenditure, as well as providing a more BCS, BSG and SNH jointly organised the XIV
flexible workforce that can take better advantage International Conference on the Zygaenidae, on
of suitable weather. Further clearance is planned Mull in September 2014. Part of the conferenc
using attendees alongside volunteers in 2014. focused on Scottish burnet moths including slender
scotch burnet moth and included field trips to some
Research of the sites where work has been carried out under
In 2013 a PhD student from Durham University SAF. This provided a very useful opportunity to
undertook fieldwork on Ulva to look at the effect of highlight this work to an international audience.
grazing on vegetation structure and composition in
relation to slender scotch burnet moth and marsh Concerns
fritillary habitat. His initial fieldwork has focused Since 2011 it has become increasingly difficult
on deer behaviour but he plans to collect burnet for applicants to gain entry into RP. Subsequently
moth data from 2014, as his exclusion plots will there have been no new applications to manage
have been in place for a year by then. land specifically for slender scotch burnet moth
Dr Joe Burman from Canterbury Christ Church since 2012. In addition the new SRDP scheme will
University specialises in synthesising moth phero- probably not be open to applicants until 2015. It
mones. In 2013 he developed lures for New is currently unclear whether slender scotch burnet
Forest burnet moth (Zygaena viciae) and success- moth will be given sufficient priority to encourage
fully tested them in the field. He is now planning owners to consider entering their land into RP
to develop lures for slender scotch burnet. These to benefit the moth, or if the new payment rates
could prove very useful in helping to discover new will make applications economically viable. This
colonies, and possibly as a monitoring technique. uncertainty and the short-term nature of the scheme
are not helpful and discourage many potential
applicants.
Key Management Messages
• Slender scotch burnet moth sites should be managed at a landscape scale.
• Advice should be site-specific and delivered by a specialist adviser.
• Its fortunes are closely linked to traditional agriculture and High Nature Value (HNV) farming
systems.
• The moth requires a warm micro-climate so is usually restricted to sunny undercliffs and slopes
on basalt rock where its larval foodplant, bird’s-foot trefoil, grows in an open sward.
• The adult moths benefit from areas of species-rich grassland/heathland to nectar in.
• Sites are best maintained by light grazing with sheep and cattle.
• A spring/summer grazing break helps maintain and enhance floristic diversity.
• On steeper terrain grazing is less crucial as landslips and rockfalls help new areas of habitat
develop.
• In the absence of sufficient grazing, bracken and scrub encroachment can be detrimental.
• One site is threatened by invasion of non-native cotoneaster. This is best controlled by using
hand-tools and treating the cut stumps with herbicide.
• The project’s success was due to the close working partnership between agents, land manag-
ers/owners, case officers and the Project Officer.There is also an issue about getting moth habitat References
into SRDP because of the tight restriction of many
of the grazing options solely to inbye land. This is
Bulman C. 1996. The movement and interchange
further compounded by the lack of a clear defini-
of the slender scotch burnet moth Zygaena loti
tion for inbye and coastal heath. For this reason
(Lepidoptera: Zygaenidae) between colonies on the
NTS has now had to withdraw from the scheme,
Isle of Mull, Scotland. MSc Thesis, University of
though fortunately the two capital elements,
Aberdeen.
fencing and bracken spraying, have been
completed and are not affected. Ravenscroft NOM, Young MR. 1996. Habitat spec-
ificity, restricted range and metapopulation persis-
This is a significant issue for many land managers,
tence of the slender scotch burnet moth Zygaena
which needs to be resolved by increasing payment
loti in western Scotland. Journal of Applied Ecology
rates for grazing management on non-inbye land,
33: 993-1000.
thereby encouraging owners to enter and retain
such important land in RP to benefit the moth and Tarr, E. 2005. Does spraying bracken result in
other key species. habitat suitable for the slender scotch burnet moth
(Zygaena loti)? MSc Thesis, University of Aberdeen.
In 2013 the Langamull House site went on the
market. Like the majority of slender scotch burnet
moth sites, it is not designated or protected in any
way. The aim will therefore be to engage with the
new owners and discuss how the site can be main- Acknowledgements
tained in a way that benefits the moth.
The success of this project is solely down to the
contribution and co-operation of many individuals
and organisations. First and foremost this work has
Further Information only been possible through funding from BC, FCS
and SNH under SAF to enable a Project Officer
• http://butterfly-conservation.org/files/scotlands- to be employed to undertake the role of specialist
burnet-and-forester-moths.pdf – slender scotch adviser. Support and advice from members of
burnet moth leaflet on BCS web page. the BSG and NTS have also been invaluable. In
addition BCS would like to thank SAC Consulting
• http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/_speciespages/640.pdf along with the case officers for their invaluable
– slender scotch burnet moth UK BAP Priority contribution without which the successful delivery
Species page. of specialist advice would not have been possible.
• http://www.snh.gov.uk/speciesactionframework In addition the co-operation, interest and enthu-
– SAF web page that provides links to slender siasm of the individual landowners and managers
scotch burnet moth information. must be praised. Alan Skeates and Anand Prasad,
both Mull volunteers, deserve particular praise for
• http://www.nts.org.uk/Property/Burg/
undertaking site surveys and habitat assessments
– NTS Burg Property web page.
to help establish the current status of the moth and
its habitat at sites on the island. In addition thanks
go to the many other volunteers and contractors
who have undertaken the cotoneaster control at
Kilninian to benefit the moth.
Without this collaboration and support the future of
slender scotch burnet moth would be very bleak.
The authors would also like to thank Mark
Parsons, Butterfly Conservation’s Head of Moth
Conservation, for his useful comments on earlier
drafts in his role as external reviewer.The SAF Partners • Scottish Natural Heritage • Butterfly Conservation Scotland • Forestry Commission Scotland • Scottish Agricultural College • National Trust for Scotland The Species Action Framework Handbook This account comes from the Species Action Framework Handbook published by Scottish Natural Heritage. For more information on the handbook please go to www.snh.gov.uk/speciesactionframework This document should be cited as follows: Prescott T, Campbell N, Luxmoore R, Primrose B, Young M. 2014. Slender scotch burnet moth. Version 1.0. In The Species Action Framework Handbook, Gaywood MJ, Boon PJ, Thompson DBA, Strachan I (eds). Scottish Natural Heritage, Battleby, Perth.
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