How many species of moths are there in the uk. Climate change is also altering conditions enabling moths to thrive in new habitats. Pyralid moths include some of the largest and most distinctive of the 1600 species of micro moths found in the uk. Mirco moths are usually smaller in size with a wingspan less than 20mm. Moths are a paraphyletic group of insects that includes all members of the order lepidoptera that are not butterflies with moths making up the vast majority of the orderthere are thought to be approximately 160000 species of moth many of which have yet to be described.
Traditionally moth fieldguides have concentrated on the so called macro moths of which there are around 800 regular species. There are so many species of moths that scientists often split them into two groups the larger or macro moths and the smaller or micro moths. Moths are also far more numerous than butterflies. We have 2500 species in the uk compared to only 70 butterfly species.
There are approximately 1600 species of micro moth in britain and ireland compared to 900 macro moths. The ultimate idea of the site was to illustrate as many species of british. Around 900 species of generally larger and better known macromoths are also found here. The north sea and english channel provide a natural barrier to many potential colonising species but the horticultural trade can provide a.
Utetheisa pulchella this is another moth that might be quite common elsewhere but here in the uk it is thought there are less than 100 pairs and that makes it a rare sight indeed. Like all moths only coming out at night also hampers counting the species for conservation purposes. Like butterflies moths pollinate certain plants particularly those which flower at night. Most species of moth are nocturnal but there are also crepuscular and diurnal species.
Compare the 59 species of butterflies breeding in britain with some 900 species of large moths known as macro moths and a further 1550 or so species of micro moths. Moths and caterpillars are a vital food source to many other groups of animals particularly bats and birds.