Over 1000 species of moth and butterfly (including over 550 micros) have been recorded from the Fen and although a number of important species have been lost of the years Wicken is still a very special and important place.

Wicken became known to entomologists in the early decades of the 19^th century but no records survive from these early collectors and it was not until 1850 that Frederick Bond began to compile the first lists of moths and butterflies. From then on Wicken became known as a mecca for lepidopterists. Eddystone lighthouses were a common sight on the Fen and some accounts describe them as lighting up the place at night like a small city.

Moths and butterflies

The moth fauna of Common Reed (Phragmites australis) is particularly rich at Wicken Fen. Common Reed is found throughout the site in the reed beds, the sedge beds, the fen meadows and along the water courses. The nationally rare, RDB2, Reed Leopard (Phragmataecia castaneae, see photo right) is quite common on the Fen; other reed species recently recorded include the Flame Wainscot, Na, (Senta flammea), Silky Wainscot, Nb, (Chilodes maritimus), Reed Dagger, Nb, (Simyra albovenosa), and the pyralids Schoenobius gigantella, Nb and Chilo phragmitella, Local. In order to accommodate these reed living moths and other invertebrates the majority of the reed communities are cut on a long (up to 4 year) rotation - the Reed Leopard for example has been reported as having a 3-4 life cycle.

The ancient fen also has large stands of Saw Sedge (Cladium mariscus) which are home to scarce pyralid Na, Nascia cilialis.

The fen meadows are very flower rich and are home to a variety of rare and unusual species. The day-flying moth the Silver Barred, RDB3, (Deltote bankiana) is common in the Purple Moor Grass (Molinia caerulea) meadows, Marsh Carpet Na (Perizoma sagittata) Dentated Pug, Na, (Anticollix sparsata), Lesser Cream Wave, Local, (Scopula immutata) and Grass Rivulet, Local (Perizoma albulata) have all been recorded in recent years.

The carr encroachment of the Fen this century has also benefitted a number of species. The Goat Moth, Nb (Cossus cossus), Cream-bordered Green Pea, Nb, (Earias clorana), Hornet Moth, Nb, (Sesia apiformis), Yellow-legged Clearwing, Nb, (Synanthedon vespiformis) and the Emperor, (Pavonia pavonia)- feeding on Buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica) were all recorded in 1998. The Goat Moth appears now to be a common species on the Fen and has even been attracted to light, its feeding habitats are rather a mystery though as no willows have been found with the characteristic damage.

Wicken Fen also has many kilometres of high water Lodes and ditches and as a result the China Mark moths (Small China Mark, Cataclysta lemnata; Beautiful China-mark, Nymphula stagnata; Brown-China-mark, Nymphula nymphaeata and Ringed China-mark, Parapoynx stratiotata) whose larva are aquatic are well represented.

There are a number of moths which have not been seen in recent years and are priorities for re-discovery, in particular the apparent disappearance of The Concolorous, RDB3, (Photodes extrema) is most odd. Its food plants the Small Reeds (Calamagrostis epigejos and C. canescens) are both very common and the species appears to be doing very well in its 'second' home in the woodlands of Rockingham Forest (John Ward pers. comm.).It is also hoped, perhaps over-optimistically, that the enigmatic Marsh Moth (Athetis pallustris), the great prize of the early collectors such as Baron de Worms, will be re-discovered.

There have been some important losses this century and the last, probably as a result of the wider drainage of the Great Fen Basin, these include Reed Tussock (Laelia coenosa) - last recorded in 1879; Marsh Dagger (Acronicta strigosa) the Many-lined (Costaconvexa polygrammata) and the Gypsy Moth (Lymantria dispar) - last recorded in 1907.

Perhaps the highest profile loss has been that of the Swallowtail (Papilio machaon britannicus). A victim of carr encroachment and falling water tables which has led to a paucity of vigorous growing Milk Parsley (Peucendanum palustre). The Swallowtail has been re-introduced three times and unfortunately each time it has died out B the last specimen being definitely recorded in 1996. Plans by the National Trust are underway to clear extensive areas of carr to re-create open fen conditions and negotiations are beginning to improve the summer water deficits. It is hoped that in a decade or so the Fen will have been sufficiently restored to again try to re-introduce this iconic species.

The other true fenland butterfly, the Large Copper (Lycaena dispar dispar) went extinct in the 1840s but Lycaena dispar batavus was re-introduced to the Fen in 1927. It survived until Adventurers' Fen was drained during the last war by the Ministry of Agriculture as part of the 'Dig for Victory' campaign. The National Trust have now restored this area back to wetlands but it appears unsuitable for the Large Copper and there are currently no plans to re-introduce this species.

The Marsh Fritillary (Eurodryas aurinia) also went extinct between 1923 and the last war (some confusion over the exact dates), the site appears very suitable as a place for re-introduction but at the current moment the national Species Action Plan is prioritising such work in the South West of Britian. As a result today we are left with a depauperate butterfly fauna. In 1998, 25 species were recorded, the most significant being the two national locally species: Green Hairstreak (Callophrys rubi) and Brown Argus (Aricia agestis). Two species of butterfly have benefitted from the carr invasion: Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria) being first recorded in 1984 and the Brimstone (Gonopteryx rhamni) which is now very abundant as are its foodplants Common Buckthorn (Rhamnus catharticus) and Alder Buckthorn (Frangula alnus).