Current status
The sword-grass has been recorded in a wide range of habitats, mostly in uplands and moorlands. The larval ecology in the wild is almost unknown. In captivity the larvae will eat the foliage of various herbaceous plants, including broadleaved dock and the leaves of some woody plants, including hawthorn, blackthorn and bird cherry, but they are selective and by no means widely polyphagous.
The sword-grass has been recorded from every country in Europe except Luxembourg and Albania. It reaches Iceland and its range extends to Japan. In the UK this moth was formerly widespread but has undergone a substantial decline since the 1960s. Since 1980 it has been recorded only occasionally in England, usually as singletons. In Wales and Northern Ireland the species is sparsely recorded but is still resident. Only in Scotland, including Shetland and Fair Isle, is the moth still being recorded regularly in numbers at various upland sites, and it is probably breeding over large areas here.
In Great Britain this species is classified as Nationally Scarce.
Current action
Some of the occupied sites are SSSIs.
Action plan objectives and targets
Maintain populations at all known sites.
Enhance the population size at all known sites by 2010.
Proposed actions with lead agencies
Policy and legislation
Where appropriate, include the requirements of the species when preparing or revising prescriptions for agri-environment schemes. (ACTION: CCW, DANI, EHS, NE, MAFF, SNH, SOAEFD, WOAD)
Site safeguard and management
Where possible, ensure that all occupied and nearby potential habitat is appropriately managed, for example through SSSI or agri-environment scheme management agreeements. (ACTION: CCW, DANI, EHS, NE, MAFF, SNH, SOAEFD, WOAD)
Where possible, increase the available habitat on the known sites and adjacent areas, and attempt to link up existing fragments of habitat. (ACTION: CCW, DANI, EHS, NE, MAFF, SNH, SOAEFD, WOAD)
Ensure that the existing populations do not become fragmented by management practices or development. (ACTION: CCW, EHS NE, LAs, SNH)
Ensure that the habitat requirements of this species are taken account of in relevant development policies, plans and proposals. (ACTION: CCW, EHS, NE, LAs, SNH)
Ensure that the sword-grass is included in site management documents for all relevant SSSIs/ASSIs. (ACTION: CCW, EHS, NE, SNH)
Species management and protection
None proposed.
Advisory
Advise landowners and managers of the presence of the species and the importance of beneficial management for its conservation. (ACTION: CCW, DANI, EHS, NE, MAFF, SNH, SOAEFD, WOAD)
As far as possible, ensure that all relevant agri-environment project officers, and members of regional agri-environment consultation groups, are advised of locations of this species, its importance, and the management needed for its conservation. (ACTION: CCW, DANI, EHS, NE, MAFF, SNH, SOAEFD, WOAD)
Future Research and Monitoring
Undertake surveys to determine current status of this species. (ACTION: CCW, EHS, NE, SNH)
Conduct targeted autecological research to elucidate the causes of decline and inform habitat management. (ACTION: CCW, EHS, NE, SNH)
Establish a regular monitoring programme for the species. (ACTION: CCW, EHS, NE, SNH)
Pass the information gathered during survey and monitoring of this species to a central database for incorporation in national and international databases. (ACTION: CCW, EHS, NE, SNH)
Encourage research on the ecology and conservation of this species on an international level, and use the experience gained towards its conservation in the UK. (ACTION: CCW, EHS, NE, JNCC, SNH)
Communications and Publicity
Promote opportunities for the appreciation of the sword-grass and the conservation issues associated with its habitat. This should be achieved through articles within appropriate journals, as well as by publicity leaflets. (ACTION: CCW, EHS, NE, SNH)
Links with other action plans
None given.
Publication details
Originally published in: UK Biodiversity Group Tranche 2 Action Plans - Volume IV: Invertebrates (March 1999, Tranche 2, Vol IV, p399)