Barberry Carpet (Pareulype berberata)
Key Details
| Taxonomic Groups: | Invertebrate > insect - moth > Moth |
| Red List Status: | (Not Relevant) [(not listed)(nr)] |
| D5 Status: | |
| Section 41 Status: | (not listed) |
| Taxa Included Synonym: | (none) |
| UKSI Recommended Name: | Pareulype berberata |
| UKSI Recommended Authority: | ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775) |
| UKSI Recommended Qualifier: | (none specified) |
| Red List Citation: | (not listed) |
| Notes on taxonomy/listing: | (none) |
Criteria
| Question 1: | Does species need conservation or recovery in England? |
| Response: | Yes |
| Justification: | GB Red List (Fox et al. 2019): EN; no long-term trend data available. Suffered historical declines and now restricted to around 12 sites across 4 counties in Southern England. |
| Question 2: | Does recovery/ conservation depend on species-specific actions? |
| Response: | Yes |
| Justification: | Populations are mostly small and isolated; vulnerable to removal of Barberry from hedgerows and inappropriate management (especially early hedge cutting). Recovery depends on establishing the host plant more widely across landscapes where the moth is present. |
| Question 3: | At a landscape scale, would the species benefit from untargeted habitat management to increase habitat mosaics, structural diversity, or particular successional stages? |
| Response: | No |
| Justification: | This species would not benefit from untargeted management |
Species Assessment
| Current step on the Species Recovery Curve (SRC): | 6. Recovery solutions trialled |
| Recovery potential/expectation: | Medium-high |
| National Monitoring Resource: | Structured - sufficient |
| Species Comments: | Bespoke annual monitoring of all extant populations is now in place (method: beating for larvae under licence). Recovery depends on the moth's ability to colonise new plantings of Barberry, as previous introductions/reintroductions have failed. |
Key Actions
Key Action 1
Proposed Action: Barberry bushes were planted at sites close to existing populations of the moth as part of the Back from the Brink project (2017-2021). These plantings now require surveys to inform future recovery projects. Need to determine: survivorship & health of planted bushes, length of time until colonisation by the moth, colonisation distance from existing sites.
Action targets: 6. Recovery solutions trialled
Action type: Scientific research
Duration: 6-10 years
Scale of Implementation: ≤ 50 sites
High priority sites: SItes across Back from the Brink planting areas in Dorset and Wiltshire.
Comments:
Key Action 2
Proposed Action: Ensure all known sites for the moth are managed appropriately through advice and feedback to land managers during annual status surveys.
Action targets: 7. Best approach adopted at appropriate scales
Action type: Advice & support
Duration: >10 years
Scale of Implementation: National
High priority sites: Around 12 sites currently known across Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire & Dorset.
Comments:
Key Action 3
Proposed Action: Carry out status surveys (beating for second generation larvae) under licence at all currently known sites, to maintain up to date status information.
Action targets: 2. Biological status assessment exists
Action type: Status survey/review
Duration: >10 years
Scale of Implementation: National
High priority sites: Around 12 sites currently known across Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire & Dorset.
Comments: Surveys & licencing currently co-ordinated by Butterfly Conservation staff and mostly carried out by BC volunteers
Acknowledgment:
Data used on this website are adapted from Threatened species recovery actions 2025 baseline (JP065): Technical report and spreadsheet user guide (Natural England, 2025). Available here.