Rare moth makes its Yorkshire debut

October 2011: What is thought to be the first Yorkshire breeding colony of the yellow belle moth has been discovered on the green roof of the Reserve Base at Natural England's Lower Derwent Valley National Nature Reserve.

NATURE ON THE ROOF: It is thought the Yellow Belle moths arrived at Lower Derwent along with the roof! Picture: Steve Hiner

The Yellow Belle normally breeds around the south coast and East Anglian Breckland, but can now be found at its new pied-a-terre between York and Selby.

Prefers hot, dry climates
The yellow belle needs hot, dry micro-climates and prefers coastal habitats. It produces two generations each year, with adults flying in May and June and then August through to September. It is believed that the individuals seen this year are the fourth generation. It is unusual to find them this far inland - the other sightings in Yorkshire have been at Spurn Point. The natural matting for the green roof was grown in the Breckland and it is thought that the moths have arrived with the roofing.

Roof blends into the landscape
The new reserve base at the Lower Derwent Valley NNR was built during 2010 and was officially opened on world wetlands day in February this year. As well as several other ‘green features', the base has a green sloping roof to blend the building into the surrounding landscape, while making it almost invisible to the thousands of waterfowl that return to the site every year from the high Arctic.

Natural England's senior reserve manager Craig Ralston said: ‘It's obviously great to have a reserve base that is fit for purpose and allows us to manage the NNR efficiently. But to have a demonstration green build, complete with a Yorkshire first is a real bonus.'