A new moth not previously recorded in Ireland was confirmed this week from Killarney National Park by amateur moth enthusiast Stephen Cotter.

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The moth is named Scoparia Ancipitella or 'Northern Grey and it is very small and is a light grey mottled colour: Perfect for camouflaging against tree trunks during the day.

Stephen roams the quieter parts of the National Park at unearthly hours of the morning and night to catch a glimpse of these rare and beautiful species

Speaking about his new recording, Stephen remarked, “People may not appreciate the incredible moth diversity we have in Ireland. We have over 1500 different species and new species are being recorded every year by a small but dedicated network of so called moth-ers!. Some of the new species recorded are related to weather and winds, some due to transportation of plants and foodstuffs, some like this moth are probably always present but in low numbers and simply not recognised.”

The caterpillars of this moth feed on Lichens and mosses. “People think that caterpillars only eat leaves but in reality, they feed on a huge range of items including plants, mosses, fungi, rotting leaves and wood; even the hides and feathers of dead creatures! Moths are in this way incredibly important in the recycling of nutrients. And, of course, everything wants to eat them, they can be thought of as the “plankton of the forest”, and in this way support a huge diversity of creatures.” Earlier this year, Stephen recorded a rare ‘White Prominent Leucodonta’ - thought to be extinct in Ireland. Stephen has recorded over 400 different species in Killarney National Park and Kerry County.

The fact that enthusiasts and Conservation Rangers are still finding new species is a sign of the richness of our moth fauna. Killarney National Park is an astounding area of rich biodiversity and this is further evidence of that.