Restoration of a native grassland as habitat for the golden sun moth Synemon plana Walker (Lepidoptera; Castniidae) at Mount Piper, Australia

Synemon plana (golden sun moth) is a small diurnal moth from the family Cas tniidae, now listed as endangered in all regions of southeastern Australia in which it occurs. This study details an attempt to restore the native gra ssland habitat of S. plana at one site by increasing the cover of its proba ble food plant, Austrodanthonia eriantha (wallaby grass), to at least 40%, the average percentage cover determined from all currently inhabited sites. The percentage cover of A. eriantha increased when seedlings were planted, although there was no significant increase in cover by seeding caryopsides (dispersal units) or by weeding. However, combining weeding with planting seedlings, or seeding increased cover by 22% and 27% to 43% and 64%, respec tively. Two hundred caryopsides per square meter (compared with only 49 see dlings/m(2)) were required to increase cover to at least 40% due to the low viability of seeds and low germination in the field. Therefore, to restore grasslands dominated by A. eriantha as suitable habitat for S. plana, seed lings should be planted and weeds removed.