Key facts
- Gaelic name: Bùrnaid Talasgair
- Wingspan: 22 – 40mm
- Distribution: Only known from Scotland, with four isolated colonies all on Skye
- Adult flight period: end of June – July
- Status: Red Data Book species (RDB3 – Rare)
- Species on the Edge areas: Argyll and Inner Hebrides
Species information
How to identify
The Talisker burnet moth is lightly larger than other burnet moths with a wingspan of 22 – 40mm. The forewings are thickly scaled and opaque and the body thickly haired. It has 5 red spots. Telling the Talisker from the Narrow-bordered five-spot burnet can be challenging, however the spots are larger especially numbers 4 and 5, are more suffused and occasionally confluent. Burnets can be quite variable so ideally you need to look at a few of them to be sure of your identification as you can get odd individuals with missing/merged spots.
When to see
The adult flight period is end of June through July.
Distribution
The Talisker burnet moth is only known from Scotland, with four isolated colonies all on Skye.
Habitat and feeding
Habitat: South to south-west facing steep ungrazed maritime undercliffs with short to tall (5 – 90cm) vegetation.
Feeding: The caterpillar foodplant is primarily meadow vetchling but occasionally bird’s-foot trefoil and clover. The adults nectar on a range of preferred species – kapweed, ragwort, devil’s-bit scabious, wild thyme and hemp agrimony.
Conservation status
Red Data Book species (RDB3 -Rare). UK Biodiversity Action Plan Priority species
Threats
The Talisker burnet moth is intrinsically at risk due to it’s limited distribution. It is also threatened by loss of habitat.
Management
Natural rock falls and soil slippage usually keep occupied sites in suitable condition. The natural instability of sites is therefore important.
What Species on the Edge is doing
-
Increased monitoring and surveying, to better understand the species’s needs at all stages of the lifecycle.
- Engaging with local communities to increase awareness of the moth.
Gallery
