BELTED BEAUTY (LYCIA ZONARIA BRITANNICA)
LOCAL BIODIVERSITY ACTION PLAN
ACTION COMPLETED IN 2005
1. The captive breeding programme was successful and egg batches were released. Over 1,000 eggs have been introduced to the experimental plot sites and will be monitored.
2. Annual spring monitoring took place.
3. Training was given to 5 volunteers to undertake monitoring.
4. A fifth scrape was excavated and fenced.
OBJECTIVES
1. Maintain existing population within the North Wirral Coastal Park.
2. Enhance the population size within the North Wirral Coastal Park by 2010.
3. Reintroduce moths to other suitable locations within Wirral.
LOCAL TARGETS
1. Increase the habitat scrapes to a total of six by the end of 2006.
2. Carry out a floristic survey and monitor invertebrate species present on the scrapes every two years.
3. Maintain sand trap fencing to encourage natural vegetation recolonisation in areas of bare sand.
4. Control the direction of horse traffic by fencing to prevent trampling and erosion.
5. Continue annual monitoring of the belted beauty populations in the North Wirral Coastal Park.
6. Continue captive breeding and release programme.
CURRENT STATUS
The belted beauty is very localised, being confined to the West coast of Scotland and the coasts of North Wales and North West England. In Britain there are two sub-species, with the Welsh and English populations known as L. z. britannica, and the Scottish populations known as L.z. atlantica. Scottish populations are widespread in the Hebrides and on the Ardnamurchan peninsula on the Scottish mainland. L.zonaria britannica is found on the Wirral peninsula, Sunderland Point, Lancashire and at Morfa Conwy, Caernarvonshire. Historically the moth was also recorded in the Sefton Coast, Flintshire and Glamorgan. The English and Welsh populations have declined due to the loss of habitat.
On the North Wirral shore (the only confirmed English site) the numbers of adults have declined over the post 20 years due to habitat destruction at Derby Pool following a severe storm and habitat destruction at Meols. Since 1994 recording has shown the number to be more or less static. The habitat is within the North Wirral Coastal Park.
In Great Britain the subspecies Lycia zonaria britannica is classified as RARE. It is a national priority species on the short list for biodiversity conservation.
THREATS
- Successional change in vegetation.
- Land development (golf courses, car parking, etc).
- Trampling pressure from increased access to sensitive dune systems.
- Low dispersal ability precludes the re-colonisation of fragmented areas of suitable habitat.
- Enrichment of sites through dog excrement.
- Horse riding and motorbike use within the Park.
CURRENT ACTION
- Butterfly Conservation, Wirral Ranger Service and Ranger Service Volunteers undertake annual monitoring.
- Butterfly Conservation carries out captive breeding.
ACTION REQUIRED IN 2006+
- Ensure the North Wirral Coastal Park is declared a SSSI by 2005.
- Ensure that habitat requirements of the belted beauty are taken into account in relevant development policies, plans and proposals.
- Quadruple the available habitat by 2010 through the removal of turf to create the early successional stage preferred by the moth. Ensure this habitat management is done as a rotation to ensure the maximum amount of habitat is available for use (rotation cycle should coincide with the disappearance of the adult moth from the area, turf stripping should not take place if there are pupae under ground).
- Restrict horse riding and the use of motorbikes in the areas used by the moth by 2003.
- Liaise with Wallasey and Royal Liverpool Golf Clubs regarding management of the roughs to create suitable habitat.
- Collect any eggs found to have blown into unsuitable areas and raise the caterpillars in captivity to release the adults into suitable areas later.
- Advise volunteers and contract staff of the presence of the moth.
- Advise Golf Courses of the potential for management and reintroduction on to their sites.
- Provide training annually for volunteers to undertake monitoring on other sites.
- Continue to monitor the populations in North Wirral Coastal Park annually.
- Survey golf courses for possible management opportunities in 2004.
- Undertake autecology study of moth.
- Assess the need for salt water to aid in the pupation stage.
- Pass on information gathered during survey and monitoring of this species to a central database for incorporation in national and international databases.
- Promote opportunities for the appreciation of the species and the conservation issues associated with its habitat.
- NVC survey to be completed in 2004 in order to support a SSSI application.
ACTION COMPLETED PREVIOUSLY
- Introductions of the moth to two coastal sites near to Meols took place during 1994 but appear to have been unsuccessful.
- A survey was carried out in 2003.
- A third habitat scrape was dug in the experimental plot area in 2003.
- Captive bred stock were released onto scrape number two in 2003.
- A floristic survey was carried out on the scraped areas in 2003.
- 400m of fencing was been installed in 2004 to exclude horse-riders from the breeding areas.
ACTUAL LBAP IMPLEMENTERS
| Butterfly Conservation Cheshire branch |
National Museums and Galleries of Merseyside |
Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council |
| Countryside Council for Wales |
rECOrd
|
Wirral Ranger Service |
OTHER POTENTIAL IMPLEMENTERS
CONTACT
Diane Bennett, Wirral Ranger Service
0151 678 5488
David Hinde, Butterfly Conservation Cheshire Branch
0151 648 3887
REFERENCES
HMSO (1995): Biodiversity: The UK Steering Group Report, Volume 2: Action Plans, London.
HMSO (1995): Biodiversity: The UK Steering Group Report, Volume 1: Meeting the Rio Challenge, London.
Date compiled - 2002
Date reviewed - 2003, 2004, 2005
This plan is part of the Wirral Biodiversity Action Plan which can be viewed at www.wirral.gov.uk/ed/biodiversity/home.htm
