A very rare moth has been discovered in Killarney National Park.
Wildlife rangers rangers say it is the first recorded sighting of a spectacular male White Prominent Leucodonta bicoloria in the Killarney area since 1938 and it was thought to be extinct in Britain and Ireland.
Following some reports of sightings, the moth was rediscovered in 2008 in the Glencar region but it hadn’t been seen in the national park in Killarney for over 80 years – until now.
The amazing discovery was made on Friday night by local orthodontist and moth specialist Stephen Cotter who discovered it during the course of a targeted survey in a remote area of the park.
“I was delighted to re-discover this mysterious creature in the national park. To think there may be a separate population to that of Glencar may suggest the population is not quite as vulnerable as we fear,” he said.
Enthusiasts from the UK regularly visit the region hoping to catch a glimpse of this rare insect which only flies for a few weeks a year and favours ancient birch woods. It is not only rare but very striking looking.
The search is on now to try and determine the exact extent and nature of the population in Killarney.
“People dismiss moths as being dull and as a pest. In reality, they are vital pollinators and we in Kerry should be very proud of our extensive moth diversity,” Stephen Cotter remarked.
“I alone have recorded over 400 different species of moth in the county. It’s amazing when you think about it,” he added.
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