One of the UK’s rarest moths once thought to be extinct appears to be making a remarkable recovery at a Ceredigion nature reserve.

This year’s annual caterpillar survey by Natural Resources Wales recorded the second highest count of the rosy marsh moth caterpillar since monitoring began in 1988.

The count at Cors Fochno, near Aberystwyth, recorded 123 caterpillars. The record was 155 in 2009.

But the annual survey only covers a very small part of the site which means there is potential for more to be found.

The survey takes place at night as the caterpillars are nocturnal and spend the day underground. Once it’s dark they climb the stem of their foodplant and come out to feed. They do this at night when there is less risk that birds will eat them.

Jack Simpson, New LIFE for Welsh Raised Bogs project and monitoring officer, said: “For the second year running, this is a great result which proves the value of the way we’re managing the habitat at Cors Fochno.

“As a lowland raised bog, Cors Fochno is a stronghold for this species because of its abundant supply of food and its waterlogged peaty soil.

“The main food plant for the caterpillars on Cors Fochno is bog myrtle, of which there is an abundant supply. They also feed on crowberry and occasionally bog rosemary.

“Considering the annual survey averages 45 caterpillars, this year’s results are exceptionally high, compared with previous years like 2017 where only 19 caterpillars were observed.”

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