Barberry carpet moth  (Pareulype berberata)

Learn about the scientific name of this species and how it fits into the tree of life at Nature Navigator.

Threats

Since the 19th century the foodplant has been removed from hedgerows because it was identified as a host of the wheat-rust fungus Puccinia graminis, which affects agricultural crops (7). In addition, damage often occurs to barberry plants through burning and hedge trimming (3). At present, efforts are being made to propagate barberry, with promising results (7).

Conservation

This moth has been identified as a priority species under the UK Biodiversity Action Plan and is the focus of an English Nature Species Recovery Programme, which began in 1995 (3). The aims of the Species Action Plan include the maintenance and enhancement of all known populations, and the restoration of ten populations within the historic range by the year 2010 (3). These targets have begun to be met through an English Nature-funded captive breeding programme at Bristol Zoo with subsequent releases into the wild (8). Further collections of this species are held at Dudley Zoo, Whipsnade Wild Animal Park, and by a number of private breeders (7).

The UK Biodiversity Action Plan for this species is available at UK BAP.
There may be further information about this species available via the National Biodiversity Network Gateway.
View information on this species at the UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre.
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