THE STATUS AND CONSERVATION OF THE NETTED CARPET EUSTROMA-RETICULATUM(DENIS AND SCHIFFERMULLER, 1775) (LEPIDOPTERA, GEOMETRIDAE), A THREATENED MOTH SPECIES IN BRITAIN

The netted carpet Eustroma reticulatum is a vulnerable British moth, d ependent as a larva on touch-me-not balsam Impatiens noli-tangere whic h is itself rare as a native plant in the British Isles. We review the status Of the moth in Great Britain: it has been recorded from the La ke District since 1856 and sporadically from North Wales, but has had several periods of very low abundance when it was suspected of being e xtinct. The results of a survey in 1990 of Lake District sites for thi s moth and a survey in 1991 of potential North Wales sites are present ed and compared with Lake District surveys in 1955 and 1980/81. Althou gh the moth increased in numbers between 1955 and 1980, the number of sites in which it now occurs has fallen by 56%-to below 1955 levels. T he moth is present in one North Wales site. Threats to colonies and ma nagement requirements of moth and foodplant are discussed Trial manage ment is being carried out by the National Trust in the Lake District.