Marsh Mallow Moth
Butterfly Conservation with the support of Natural England, have been co-ordinating survey and monitoring for the Marsh Mallow Moth Hydraecia osseola hucherardi on the Romney Marshes since 2000. This UK Biodiversity Action Plan Priority species requires stands of the larval foodplant, Marsh Mallow Althaea officinalis, suitable stands being a minimum of 100 plants or 300 flowering spikes.
Marsh Mallow Moth Sept 2007
The moth, which is only found elsewhere in Britain on the Medway, and is exceedingly local in Europe, is currently confined to just four sites on the marsh, although it was formerly more widespread here in the 1950s and 1960s, with its foodplant being much less frequent than formerly, these often occurring as isolated plants. Regular monitoring enables site advice to be provided to help manage for the species and encouragement is being given to the establishment of further, more extensive, stands of the foodplant.
Download a fact sheet here.
If you are aware of any substantial stands of Marsh Mallow we would be pleased to hear from you.
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Marsh Mallow in flower
