A rare six-belted clearwing moth has been identified in Rough Park, a nature reserve in Telford, marking the first recorded instance of the species in the town. The discovery was made by the newly formed Telford & Wrekin Butterfly and Moth Recording Group, with support from the West Midlands Butterfly and Moth Society.
Conservationists employed pheromone lures, which mimic the scent of female moths to attract males, in their search for the elusive insect. The six-belted clearwing is described as tiny and easily overlooked, leading to hopes that it may be found in other areas of Telford.
The moth is known to lay its eggs on Bird's-foot trefoil, a plant that is common on many of Telford's former industrial sites, including Rough Park. Based on this, the conservationists have identified two additional potential locations where the species might be present.
The West Midlands Butterfly and Moth Society noted that while Telford is currently under-recorded for moth sightings, the region is known to host significant populations of other notable species, such as the green hairstreak, dingy skipper, and six-spot burnet. The society aims to encourage the spread of Bird's-foot trefoil to further support butterfly and moth populations in the area.