Moths Balled

An insect survey looked at four indicators of moth population health in woodland and six other habitats in the UK between 1968 and 2016 (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/apr/29/moths-declining-faster-in-british-woods-than-farmland-or-cities ). Broadleaf woodland was the only location in which all four measures (abundance, biomass, species richness and species diversity) all showed severe declines. There were greater declines in the South of Britain than the North. The scientists think that climate-change is involved. It's difficult to understand, however, why the situation in broadleaf woodland is more dier than in, for example, gardens. One might have thought that, the former would offer more protections against a) temperature rise, b) insecticide use and c) light pollution. The most challenged woodland moth species are the Brindled beauty (Lycia hirtaria), Canary-shouldered thorn (Ennomos alniaria) and the Scalloped oak (Crocallis elinguaria) with declines of 78; 68 and 69%, respectively.