Moths and butterflies

Moths and butterflies are sounding the alarm for nature.

They’re vital pollinators, but data from 2024 shows that their numbers have declined dramatically.

Narrow bordered bee hawk-moth, Barry Henwood

Oat lutestring, Barry Henwood

High brown fritillary, Adrian Colston

1. About

Moths and butterflies bring beauty and balance to the natural world. While butterflies are often celebrated for their bright colours and elegant flight, moths are just as fascinating with their intricate patterns and unique behaviours. Both play a vital role in pollination and are an essential food source for birds, bats and other wildlife.   

However, moths and butterflies are in decline and urgent action is needed. Since 1976, 80% of butterfly species in the UK have decreased in either abundance, distribution or both. And in the last 50 years, over two-thirds of common and widespread macro moths have declined.

Moths and butterflies are found in a wide range of Devon’s habitats, from shady woodlands to sunny limestone grasslands, but all need certain things: 

  • Flower-rich habitats: Adult moths and butterflies feed on nectar produced by flowers so depend on habitats with a wide range of herbaceous plants, shrubs and trees. 
  • Long grass: Grasses provide food and shelter for many moths and butterflies throughout the year, so uncut grass is vital for their survival.
  • Caterpillar foodplants: Some species require a specific foodplant, and if this is rare then the moth or butterfly will be too. For example, white admiral caterpillars feed on honeysuckle in woodlands while the narrow-bordered bee hawk-moth feeds on devil’s bit scabious, found in flower rich acidic wet grasslands. Many common garden butterflies, such as the peacock, red admiral and comma, only feed on nettles.
  • Shelter: Moths and butterflies overwinter and pupate in sheltered spots such as grass tussocks, scrub, trees, buildings and soil. Some caterpillars burrow into soil to pupate while others fix onto plants using a cocoon, which can cover entire bushes. A few species, such as the silver-studded blue, are taken by ants into their nests where they’re ‘farmed’ to excrete sugars for the ants and in turn are protected until they pupate.
  • Connectivity: A network of connected flower-rich habitats (meadows, hedgerow corridors, woodlands and gardens) is critical as populations that live in isolated habitats are far more likely to die out. Different species travel different distances to find habitats. For example, wood whites are weak fliers and need continuous habitat or gaps of no more than 500 metres while the high brown fritillary can travel xxx kilometres.

Moths in Devon

1,398 of the UK’s 2,500 breeding moth species are found in Devon. xxx are listed as Devon Species of Conservation Concern and xxx of these are listed as Devon Special Species.

Butterflies in Devon

39 of the UK’s 59 butterfly species are found in Devon. 13 are listed as Devon Species of Conservation Concern and seven of these are Devon Special Species.

Key pressures and opportunities

Data from the UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme shows that 2024 was one of the worst years on record for butterflies in the UK and more than half of butterfly species are now in long-term decline. Butterflies and moths are sounding the alarm for nature and we must take action now.

Habitat across Devon has been lost and fragmented as a result of land use such as intensive farming, forestry, urban development and infrastructure schemes. Lack of management of existing habitats, or changes to their management, can cause loss of specific caterpillar food plants, nectar sources and overwintering sites. Many moths and butterflies now live in isolated sites where populations can’t survive. 

Rising temperatures, extreme weather events and seasonal changes disrupt butterfly life cycles, reduce food plant availability and alter habitats. However, climate change also brings new species into Devon, such as (To discuss and add at October Butterfly Conservation Devon branch meeting).

Herbicides reduce nectar sources and caterpillar foodplants while insecticides affect both caterpillars and adults. There are huge opportunities for all sectors to reduce the use of pesticides.

Light pollution is a particular threat to moths which are largely nocturnal.

BC and Devon group to be asked during the Consultation to add headline text regarding lack of knowledge and research needs – to discuss at October Devon BC branch meeting.

There are opportunities to use funding such as agri-environment schemes to restore and manage habitats for moths and butterflies and connect them through grassy field margins, hedgerows and stream corridors. There are several large conservation projects across Devon that focus on butterflies. See Inspiration below.

2. What we need to do and where

Priority

Increase the abundance and distribution of moths and butterflies across Devon, especially those listed as Devon Special Species.

See Find out more for links to more detailed information on this group including management advice and records.

Devon Special Species

Bracken and violet fritillary butterflies

All three of these Focus Species rely on acid grassland habitats with bracken and violets. Violets are the caterpillar foodplant and bracken provides shelter and safe places to hibernate.  Q: should we separate out small pearl-bordered?

Pearl-bordered fritillary

Boloria euphrosyne

Pearl-bordered fritillaries are one of the earliest of the three Focus Species to emerge in the spring flying from late April into May. They’re very sedentary and some will only travel a few metres to new habitats although others will fly up to 400m. Studies have shown that even a 10 year coppice growth can be a complete barrier to low flying females. Caterpillars prefer to feed on common dog-violet but will feed on marsh dog- violet and heath dog-violet.

In Devon, they’re mainly found on the moorland fringes and woodland edges of eastern Dartmoor, although smaller colonies survive at Torrington Common, Marsland DWT Reserve, and Lydford Butterfly Conservaton Reserve. They’ve disappeared from former sites like Roborough Common and Ashclyst Forest, reflecting a significant national decline—around 90% since the 1970s.

Small pearl-bordered fritillary

Boloria selene

The small pearl-bordered fritillary is a fast-flying butterfly which can be seen during May and June. They are widespread across Devon but in significant decline. They typically travel 1–2 km, although will go as far as 5 km, so are vulnerable to habitat fragmentation. Caterpillars prefer common dog-violet and marsh violet. 

In Devon, they’re found in the Rhos pastures of Dartmoor, north Devon culm, wet heaths in the Pebblebeds and wetland mosaics in Haldon and the Blackdown Hills.

High brown fritillary

Fabriciana adippe

The high brown fritillary is a large, fast-flying butterfly with striking orange and black wings that can be seen soaring above bracken and low vegetation in woodland clearings.  It is the latest flying of these three fritillaries and can be seen in June and July.  Caterpillars feed on common dog-violet.   

The high brown is a strong mobile butterfly which is known to fly 1-2km to reach good habitat.  With good weather conditions it could possibly colonise new habitat 10-15km away. 

The British population has undergone a massive decline and this is Britain’s most endangered butterfly.  It is now only found at Morecombe Bay, Dartmoor, Exmoor and one site in Wales.  It’s range in Devon has contracted and it’s now confined to two areas on Dartmoor (eight sites in the Dart Valley and four in the Walkham Valley) and Exmoor (nine sites in the Heddon Valley.  There have been occasional sightings at Haytor and Trendlebere on Dartmoor.    

Actions

Manage and restore a network of large bracken and violet rich habitats connected by flower rich corridors and stepping stones for fritillary butterflies.

  • Explore the potential to re-introduce high-brown fritillaries to previous sites such as the Teign Valley.   
  • Extend existing habitats and create new breeding habitats, taking into account dispersal distances (see above).
  • Provide networks of flower-rich corridors (hedgerows, field margins and along watercourses) to increase connectivity and stepping stones to help species disperse.

Where to focus action

Pearl-bordered and high brown fritillaries

High Opportunity Areas: Ancient and other broadleaved woodland and heathlands, acid grasslands. Actions should be guided by the Species Opportunity Areas mapped for pearl-bordered and high brown fritillaries as these show where action is most needed to restore and link populations. See Mapping.

Small pearl-bordered fritillary

  • High Opportunity Areas: Dartmoor Rhos Pastures, North Devon Culm, Pebblebed Heaths, Haldon Heaths, East Devon Spring-Line Mires. This species is widespread and no Species Opportunity Area has been mapped. See Mapping.

Moths of Dartmoor broadleaved woods

Dartmoor’s broadleaved woodlands support a group of rare moths which rely on microhabitats such as leaf litter, dead wood, oak leaves and fungi. The species in this group mainly have their strongholds in woodlands on the southern, eastern and south west fringes of Dartmoor. Sites such as East Dartmoor Woodlands NNR and Hembury Woods are especially important. 

These moths are often found in microhabitats such as dead leaves and under bark on dead wood.

Devon Species of Conservation Concern in this group include: Consultation Q: do we list these moths as below or is this too much information and we jsut list them and link people to the spreadsheet?

  • Banded goldenrod straw (Phalonidia curvistrigana) – Caterpillars feed on the flowers and seeds of goldenrod. Recorded in south east Dartmoor woodlands as well as woodlands in Torbay and Great Torrington.
  • The coppice beauty (Olethreutes arcuella) – Caterpillars feed on dead leaves on the ground in Hembury Woods and other woodlands in east Dartmoor.
  • Triangle (Heterogenea asella) – Caterpillars feed mainly on pedunculate oak and beech. Recorded in SW Dartmoor woodlands and Great Torrington.
  • The lead-coloured pug (Eupithecia plumbeolata) – Recorded around the fringes of east, southern and west Dartmoor as well as west Exmoor. Caterpillars feed on common cow-wheat
  • The blotched emerald (Comibaena bajularia) – Feeds on pedunculate and sessile oak. More widespread than some other species but declining and largely found in Dartmoor woodlands.
  • The silver-streaked beauty (Schiffermuelleria grandis) – A very rare micro moth which thrives in humid woodlands where the caterpillars feed on decaying wood found under the bark.  It is currently found in the Teign Valley.
  • Beautiful bark moth (Oecophora bractella) – Relies on dead wood and possibly fungi with records from Hembury Woods and southern Dartmoor.  This is a rare micromoth restricted to a few ancient woodlands in the midlands, south Wales and southern England. 
  • Oak lutestring (Cymatophorina diluta) – Endangered and declining, feeds on oak and is found in Hembury Woods and other Dartmoor sites.

The Heckford pygmy moth has been listed as a Devon Special Species in its own right:

Heckford pygmy moth

Ectoedemia heckfordii

This species was discovered in 2004 in Hembury Woods. Since then it has also been recorded in the Dart Valley and at Chudleigh Knighton Heath. It hasn’t been found anywhere else in the UK.

The adult moths have never been photographed. However, the distinctive bright green caterpillars can be seen from August to early September when they eat oak leaves. They overwinter in a cocoon on the ground.

Actions

  • Manage, expand and link Dartmoor broadleaved woodlands for rare moths with microhabitats such as dead wood, fungi and leaf litter.  See Broadleaved woodlands for more actions.
  • Survey and monitor populations by searching for caterpillars on the foodplant.

Where to focus action

High Opportunity Areas: Ancient and other broadleaved woodland (existing) and Woody habitat expansion areas across Dartmoor. See Mapping

Heath fritillary

Mellicta athalia

The heath fritillary is one of the rarest and most threatened butterflies in the UK. Between 1981 and 2019 its population declined by 90% and today it’s in danger of extinction.   

Heath fritillaries generally like sunny, warm, sheltered woodland glades with lots of common cow-wheat, the caterpillars’ main foodplant. They typically fly 1-2 km to new sites, although under the right conditions some may travel up to 5 km. Therefore they depend on stepping stones of suitable habitat.

They’re only found in a few sites in Kent, Essex, Somerset (Exmoor) and one site in Devon, a Butterfly Conservation reserve near Lydford where heath fritillaries were reintroduced in 2006, having gone extinct in the Tamar Valley due to habitat loss.  They’re found in the reserve’s open coppice woodland and nearby species-rich grasslands, where the caterpillars feed on ribwort plantain and germander speedwell. There have also been occasional sightings in the adjacent Forestry Commission woodlands. However, in 2024 only six individuals were recorded.

Actions

Manage and restore woodlands and grasslands to provide sunny areas with common cow-wheat and other foodplants for heath fritillary.

  • Create and maintain open, sunny habitat with abundant common cow-wheat, ribwort plantain and germander speedwell. Lightly graze and control scrub in grasslands. Coppice woodlands and maintain wide sunny glades and scrubby edges in both broadleaved and conifer woodlands. 
  • Provide networks of flower-rich corridors (hedgerows, field margins and along watercourses) to increase connectivity and stepping stones to help species disperse.
  • Translocate butterflies where appropriate and with expert help. 
  • Monitor adult populations through transect walks

Where to focus action

High Opportunity Areas: Woody mosaics and wildlife-rich grasslands. Actions should be prioritised to the Species Opportunity Area mapped for heath fritillary which focuses on the Lydford reserve and surrounding area. See Mapping.

Heathland moths and butterflies

Devon’s heathland mosaics support a group of rare moths. Some rely on species such as heather, gorse and broom. Others however have very particular microhabitat requirements which are not always recognised when carrying out habitat management for other more well known species. Devon Species of Conservation Concern which make up this group include:

Moths

  • Neglected rustic (Xestia castanea) – a declining species which is dependent on heather. Found across the Pebblebed heaths and the eastern and SW fringes of Dartmoor.
  • Grass wave (Perconia strigillaria) – caterpillars feed on heathers and broom. Found on the Pebblebed heaths and a few areas on the east Dartmoor fringes.
  • Sandhill lead-miner (Phyllonorycter quinqueguttella) – found mainly on the Pebblebed heaths but also east Dartmoor fringes and Braunton Burrows. Caterpillars feed on creeping willow. 
  • Small grass emerald (Chlorissa viridata) – now only found on heathland in the south of England. The main caterpillar foodplants are heather and birch but also gorse and creeping willow.  Recorded on the Pebblebed heaths, eastern fringes of Dartmoor and at Beaford Moor.

Butterflies (check and add info)

  • Silver-studded blue (Plebejus argus) –
  • Grayling (Hipparchia semele)

Actions

Manage and restore heathland mosaics with heathers and scattered scrub. Consider the microhabitat requirements of rare moths.

Where to focus action

High Opportunity Areas: Pebblebed Heaths, Bovey Basin Heaths and Haldon Heaths. See Mapping

The marsh fritillary group

 Four Focus Species are found in Devon’s wet acid grasslands.

Marsh fritillary

Euphydryas aurini

The marsh fritillary is one of the UK’s most threatened butterflies, having suffered severe declines due to habitat loss and fragmentation. In Devon it’s found in wet acid grasslands where the caterpillars’ foodplant, devil’s-bit scabious, grows.

Adults lay eggs in clusters of up to 200 on a single leaf. The caterpillars weave distinctive silk webs which act as communal nests. Marsh fritillaries are thought to need habitat patches no more than 500m apart, but are known to use small patches of habitat as stepping stones to move between larger breeding sites. Isolated populations rarely survive.

Dartmoor is Devon’s stronghold, with core populations found across four metapopulation networks: Tor Valley, Fernworthy-Long Lane, Postbridge-West Webburn and Walkham Valley. In north Devon there are three metapopulation networks, centred around Volehouse Moor in the north-west, Knowstone and Rackenford Moor and Witheridge Moor in the north-east, with a smaller population close to Cookworthy Forest, centred around Luckcroft and Common Moor. Blackdowns?

Narrow-bordered bee hawk-moth

Hemaris tityus

The caterpillars of this moth also feed on devil’s-bit scabious and in Devon the two species are largely found in the same habitats. However, the hawk-moth isn’t currently found in the Blackdown Hills and is restricted to Rhôs pastures on Dartmoor and culm grasslands in north-west Devon. Once widely recorded over much of Britain, it has disappeared from most of its historical range.

Dingy mocha

Cyclophora pendularia

The caterpillars of this nationally rare moth feed on eared willow, which grows in open sunny areas such as north Devon’s culm grasslands. It’s rarely found in areas with spring and summer grazing. In Devon, the most recent records are from culm grassland at Hollow Moor, near Holsworthy.

Small pearl-bordered fritillary

Boloria selene

See the bracken and violet butterflies group for more information.

Actions

Manage and restore a network of wet acid grasslands and heath with scattered scrub and devil’s bit scabious connected by flower rich corridors and stepping stones.

  • Lightly graze wet acid grasslands with hardy cattle or ponies (not sheep) in late spring and summer to create an open, varied and tussocky sward structure (between 5cm and 20cm) suitable for devil’s bit scabious and scattered scrub (~ 10%). Clear scrub where needed. Plant devil’s bit scabious where needed. Controlled burning can be effective to restore sites dominated by Molinia tussocks.
  • Restore as much connected habitat as possible within 5km of known populations (see above for locations).
  • Provide networks of flower-rich corridors (hedgerows, field margins and along watercourses) to increase connectivity and stepping stones to help species disperse. Avoid tree planting which could block connectivity between breeding populations.

Survey and monitoring

  • Survey and monitor marsh fritillary populations by counting caterpillar webs in August.
  • Survey and monitor moths on sunny days in May and June when the adults are active.

Where to focus action

High Opportunity Areas:

  • Marsh fritillary and narrow-bordered bee hawk-moth: areas have been mapped which show where action is needed most to restore and link populations of both species.
  • Dingy mocha: Hollow Moor, near Holsworthy in the North Devon culm focus area. See Mapping.

Wood white

Leptidea sinapis

The wood white is one of the UK’s lightest and smallest butterfly species. It lives in shaded and sheltered habitats with tall grassland or light shrub. Caterpillars feed on vetches, including bitter vetch, tufted vetch, birds-foot trefoil and greater birds-foot trefoil. Adults breed twice a year, flying in May or June and August.

In Devon, the largest populations are found in scrubby grasslands on the east Devon coast, Meeth Quarry in north Devon and Cookworthy Forest. The wood white typically stays in small, interconnected habitats, only flying 1 to 3 km and preferring woodland clearings.

Actions

Manage scrub and grasslands, hedge and riparian corridors and woodland clearings to provide vetches (caterpillar food plant) in dappled shade.

  • Provide networks of flower-rich corridors (hedgerows, field margins and along watercourses) to increase connectivity and stepping stones to help species disperse.
  • Use light grazing or rotational scrub clearance (as appropriate) to manage and create mosaics of shady areas (scrub, woodland edge, hedges) and grasslands with vetches. 
  • In woodlands, create mosaics of open sunny areas and shady edges through coppicing or rotational cutting of clearings and scrub edges. 

Survey and monitoring

  • Expand monitoring undertaken by organisations such as Butterfly Conservation. More funding is required. Adults can be surveyed when they’re on the wing in June.
  • Comprehensive surveying was carried out in 2018 and 2023 at Cookworthy Forest complex and should be repeated at least every five years.

Where to focus action

High Opportunity Areas:

  • Wood white layer on the viewer. There are two areas – one is focused on the east Devon coast and the other aims to link the Cookworthy and Meeth populations. See Mapping

Brown hairstreak

Thecla betulae

Devon’s hedgerows and scrub provide essential habitat and connectivity for butterflies and moths. Species such as the lackey and lappet moths (both Devon Species of Conservation Concern) were once widespread across Devon’s farmed landscapes feeding largely on hawthorn and blackthorn. They are now more often found in coastal areas and nature reserves where habitat remains more suitable.

The brown hairstreak is considered one of the most elusive butterflies in the UK. Adults are rarely seen as they spend most of their time high in trees. They come down to lay eggs on young blackthorn leaves, often on warm south-facing hedges or scrub (so usually below 250 metres). Their UK population has declined significantly due to the loss of hedgerows and annual flailing. 

Devon is considered a stronghold and while they’re thought to be across the county more survey is needed. However, populations are known to be in the Blackdowns, Torbay and mid-Devon. The most effective monitoring method is counting eggs from late October to early March, when they can be seen on young twigs.  

Actions

Manage, restore and create a network of wildlife rich hedges, scrub and woodland edge with blackthorn.

  • Avoid annual trimming of hedges and woodland edges, particularly to protect brown hairstreak eggs. Where possible cut every 3-5 years in January or February. Cut hedges on rotation so that no more than one third are cut each year. Lay or coppice hedges on rotation. 
  • Restore and create new hedges with plenty of blackthorn, especially on an east to west alignment to create a warm sunny side for egg laying. Link existing hedges and woodlands to increase connectivity. 
  • Plant blackthorn (or allow it to grow naturally) in urban landscaping schemes and in parks and gardens to increase habitat and connectivity.
  • Keep trees identified as key mating sites and congregation points for brown hairstreaks. Consultation Q: How do we know where they are?

Survey and monitoring.

  • Brown Hairstreaks: Carry out egg counts from late October to early March, when blackthorn is free of leaves and eggs can be spotted on young twigs. Due to the specialist knowledge and search effort required, it’s likely that this butterfly is under-recorded.

Where to focus action

  • All hedges and woodlands across lowland Devon. 

Torbay limestone moths

The rich biodiversity of Torbay’s coastal limestone grasslands provides an ideal environment for a distinctive range of moth species that thrive in the wildflower-rich habitats typical of these well-drained soils.   Two have been listed as Focus Species, see below. The beautiful gothic (Leucochlaena oditis) is also recorded here but is also found at other coastal sites and discussed in the Coastal moths group.

Two other Devon Species of Conservation Concern are an important part of this group:

  • Little ghost (Ischnoscia borreonella) – Only recorded at Petit Tor Point and Berry Head in Devon and Portland in Dorset. Very little is known about this rare moth.
  • Scarce moss moth (Bryotropha dryadella) – Recorded in three sites in Devon in Torquay, Berry Head and Hartland on the north Devon coast. Elsewhere it is known from Cornwall, Essex and Kent. It is very difficult to identify. Caterpillars feed on the moss Ctenidium molluscum.

Goldilocks case bearer

Coleophoral linosyridella

This was first recorded at Berry Head in 2013. Caterpillars are dependent on their foodplant, goldilocks aster (see Torbay limestone plants). The only other known UK sites are on the Thames estuary in Kent and Essex, where it feeds on sea aster.

White-headed detritus moth

Infurcitinea albicomella

In Britain this micromoth has only been recorded in Torbay. It was commonly found in a small area of the Torquay coast, where the caterpillars fed on dead leaves of the small-leaved cotoneaster. However, between 2008-2011 the plant was sprayed with herbicide and the moth was last recorded in July 2011. It has not been seen since and could be extinct.

Actions

Manage and connect flower-rich Torbay limestone grasslands for rare moths ensuring that microhabitat requirements are met.

  • See wildlife-rich grassland and Torbay limestone plants for detailed actions. Consider maintaining areas of species such as cotoneaster and evergreen oak for species such as the white-headed detritus moth. 
  • Survey by looking for caterpillars in leaf litter and other debris to assess populations and habitats. 

Where to focus action

High Opportunity Area: Torbay Limestone Coastal Wildbelt. See Mapping.

Sand dune moths

See Sand dune invertebrates page for details.

Morris's waisncot moth (white-grey coloured) on a bed of straw

Morris's wainscot and other east coast moths and butterflies

To read more please go to the Sidmouth to Dorset coastal wildbelt group page

Devonshire wainscot and other coastal moths

To read more please go to the North and south coast invertebrates page.

Actions for all moths and butterflies

Habitat management and creation

We’re in a butterfly and moth emergency. To end this we need everyone, everywhere, to take action and provide a wide range of flowering plants, uncut grass, scrub and trees.

Moths and butterflies are found in the majority of habitats across Devon and will benefit from the actions set out on the Habitat pages.

Anyone who is managing or creating habitat for rare moths and butterflies should be aware of their needs. For more detailed information see the list of Devon Species of Conservation Concern and Find out more below.

Awareness

  • Join the Devon Moth Group or the Devon branch of Butterfly Conservation to help save moths and butterflies in the county.
  • Volunteer for a project that’s helping moths and butterflies. See xxx for a list of organisations in Devon running volunteer schemes (we can decide where to link to but probably LNP WAD pages)

3. Inspiration

A great video on how to find white admiral larvae, produced by Peter Eeles.

Case studies

There’s lots of great work going on across Devon for moths and butterflies. For example:

West Devon Butterfly Habitat project

A range of partners including Butterfly Conservation, Natural England, Walreddon Estates and the Forestry Commission are working together on the West Devon Butterfly Habitat project. The project is funded by Devon Environment Foundation and aims to share best practice to benefit a range of species, in particular the heath fritillary and high brown fritillary.

Devon Wildlife Trust Fritillary Recovery project

Devon Wildlife Trust (DWT) has received funding from Natural England’s Species Recovery programme for a fritillary recovery project. The project will restore and re-create habitat for the marsh fritillary, pearl-bordered fritillary, small pearl-bordered fritillary and high brown fritillary across 12 of DWT’s reserves.

Where to visit

Always follow the Countryside Code and keep to footpaths and sites that are managed for public access. 

Good places to see moths and butterflies are:

Sites which are accessible to the public and good places to see moths and butterflies include all of the South West Coast Path, especially Berry Head and the east Devon undercliffs around Branscombe.

Devon Wildlife Trust sites include Meeth Quarry for wood whites and Dunsdon for marsh fritillaries and small pearl-bordered fritillaries.

To be added during consultation.

For information on visiting these and other sites that are open to the public please see the Explore Devon website.

4. Find out more

The Devon Moth Group website has a wealth of information including phenology charts and distribution maps for all species. The maps show distribution, rather than abundance.

The web page of the Devon branch of Butterfly Conservation has lots of information on the county’s butterflies, including how to report sightings.

Butterfly Conservation’s website has loads of information on butterflies and moths including details of campaigns, surveys and habitat management.

The State of the UK’s Butterflies 2022 Report has information on the national decline in butterflies.

The State of Britain’s Larger Moths 2021 report has information on the UK’s decline in moths.

Devon Wildlife Trust has information on where to spot wildlife in Devon, including on its own reserves.

The Habitat Group’s White Spot Moth Conservation Project is growing the nottingham catchfly plant in an effort to increase white spot moth populations.

The East Devon National Landscape has a project to help the brown hairstreak butterfly.

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