Rare moth find in town park sparks hopes of others

A rare moth has been spotted at a park in Telford, according to conservationists.

The West Midlands Butterfly and Moth Society said they were "delighted" at the sightings of the six-belted clearwing, which had never been recorded in the town before.

They said the moth was "tiny and easily overlooked" and they hoped it could be found elsewhere in the Telford area.

The moth is known to lay its eggs in a plant called Bird's-foot trefoil, the group said, adding it was a common plant on many of Telford's former brownfield sites, such as Rough Park - the nature reserve where the moth was spotted.

The conservationists said they have identified two other potential sites where the moths might be found.

They said the insect was discovered by the newly formed Telford & Wrekin Butterfly and Moth Recording Group.

The group used pheromone lures "which mimic the scent given off by the female moth to attract males" to look for it.

The West Midlands Butterfly and Moth Society said Telford was currently under-recorded for moth sightings, but was known to have "important populations of regionally important butterflies and moths like green hairstreak, dingy skipper and six-spot burnet".

They added they wanted to encourage the spread of Bird's-foot trefoil to encourage other butterflies and moths.

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