Successes in conserving the barberry carpet moth Pareulype berberata (D. & S.) (Geometridae) in England

Published source details Waring P. (2004) Successes in conserving the barberry carpet moth Pareulype berberata (D. & S.) (Geometridae) in England. Journal of Insect Conservation, 8, 167-171.
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This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

	Action	Category
	Release captive-bred individuals to the wild Action Link

Release captive-bred individuals to the wild

A replicated study in 1987–early 2000s (exact year not given) in 10 woodlands and hedgerows in England, UK (Waring 2004) reported that three out of 10 released populations of captive-bred barberry carpet moth Pareulype berberata established in the wild. At three sites where hundreds of barberry carpet moth caterpillars, and in one case adults, were released, self-maintaining populations were established. One population had survived for five years. However, at one site where thousands of caterpillars were released in multiple attempts, some breeding took place but the population died out after three generations. The author suggested that common barberry Berberis vulgaris bushes needed to be trimmed to generate new growth. At another site where thousands of caterpillars were released on to cultivated barberry (Berberis thunbergii and Berberis ottawensis), the population failed to establish, despite caterpillars using these species in captivity. From 1987, but especially from the late 1990s, small numbers of barberry carpet moths (adults and caterpillars) were collected from the wild. Captive-bred caterpillars were released in multiple batches at 10 sites in Wiltshire, Northamptonshire, Lincolnshire, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire and Norfolk with established barberry bushes. At one site adults were also released. No monitoring details were provided.

(Summarised by: Andrew Bladon)