General Remarks:
Probably Extinct

In the London Area, which includes the entire of Middlesex, Goat Moth was 'an extremely local and very rare resident ... declining and considered to be in danger of extinction in the London Area' (Plant, 1993). Positive Hertfordshire records span the years from 1873 to 1961 and the species was considered likely to be extinct in the county in The Moths of Hertfordshire (Plant, 2008). The larvae feed internally in the trunks of deciduous trees, preferring damp or wet places; such places still persist, so there are probably factors other than the loss of habitat at play. Larvae may have persisted in a single tree at the Danemead Nature Reserve (Broxbourne Woods complex), but this is unconfirmed and in any case by 1999 no larvae could be found there. Use of a recently created artificial pheromone lure has so far produced only negative results, but it transpires on investigation that rather few users have left the lures out overnight and within a trap capable of retaining these large moths. Trees still supporting the moth should be identified and protected; habitat protection is of far greater value than individual species protection.

	Retained Specimen / Photograph will be Required.

Recorded in 20 (49%) of 41 10k Squares. First Recorded in 1885. Last Recorded in 2020. Additional Stats

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