Annual Moth Census (Brill)

BRILL, UNITED KINGDOM - AUGUST 09: Brill Environment Group Chairman, Peter Davis poses for a portrait with his homemade moth trap on Brill Common on August 9, 2013 in Brill, United Kingdom. This weekend saw the annual Moth Night where moth recorders, lepidopterists and moth enthusiasts across the country ventured out and take part in the annual moth night survey. The annual census is organised by Butterfly Conservation and Atropos, and hoped to raise awareness of moths and their importance in the food chain. The findings of the survey help provide a picture of populations across the country, and how they are affected by climate change. It is thought that climate change in the form of warmer, wetter winters reduced the survival of some of Britains most charismatic moths. Around 2,500 species of moth are found in the British Isles compared to approximately 70 butterflies. Moths are split into two groups, macro, and the smaller micro moth, with different species across a range of habitat able to be found flying throughout the year. Moths play a major role in the food chain providing food for predators such as bats, and playing their part as major pollinators much like butterflies and bees. Though most fly at night, there are also several day flying moths such as tiger moths.