Photo: Division of Fisheries and Wildlife
HARDWICK, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — A sign of hope for a local species listed as a "Special Concern" under the Massachusetts Endangered Species Act (MESA). Local biologists announce, they've recently spotted the orange sallow moth at the Muddy Brook Wildlife Management Area (WMA).
The sighting follows a years-long restoration effort at the WMA, specifically looking at restoring the moth's natural habitat. The orange sallow moths live in fire-dependent ecosystems. Due to public safety concerns these natural fire ecosystems have been suppressed for decades, though the wildlife has remained resilient.
These moths feed exclusively on the flowers, seeds, and leaves of false foxglove plants, which thrive in fire-dependent ecosystems. The plants were not found at Muddy Brook WMA until after the restoration efforts began, emerging from the seedbank after prescribed fires.
MassWildlife believes these seeds remained dormant since the 1950s, but the new abundance of false foxglove attracted orange sallow moths from a habitat five miles away.
The orange sallow moth is the seventh MESA-listed moth species observed at Muddy Brook WMA since restoration efforts began.
WBZ's Jay Willett (@JayWillettWBZ) reports
Follow WBZ NewsRadio: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | iHeartmedia App | TikTok