{"id":3066,"date":"2023-09-06T10:45:54","date_gmt":"2023-09-06T10:45:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.charter-arctic.org\/?p=2425"},"modified":"2025-11-17T08:52:36","modified_gmt":"2025-11-17T06:52:36","slug":"2425-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogi.eoppimispalvelut.fi\/charterarctic\/2023\/09\/06\/2425-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Extraordinary Moth Outbreak in Finnish Lapland"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

An exceptionally large outbreak of the Common Heath<\/strong>\u00a0Ematurga atomaria<\/em> moth has been observed this summer in parts of the Ounastunturi fell, in northwest Finnish Lapland. A CHARTER project researcher Henri Wallen has been investigating this outbreak and its ramifications through the use of satellite imagery, on site visits and with local reindeer herders who have been reporting this as an issue of increasing occurrence and concern over the last few years. Henri has been working on this in collaboration with Work Package 2 leader Sari Stark<\/a>. The sites in question are inside the Pallas-Yll\u00e4stunturi\u00a0National Park<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n

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This moth has never been seen before to impact the landscape in this way in this region, which has led to extensive localised browning of the vegetation according to Henri whose findings have been widely reported in the Finnish media. In a demonstration of the interconnected and fragile nature of Arctic foodwebs, this will lead to the death of sparrows, which in turn will weaken reindeer’s winter food supplies.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Browning caused by Common Heath moth outbreaks in Ounastunturi. Pic: Henri Wallen.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Further reading, in Finnish<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mets\u00e4mittariperhosen massaesiintym\u00e4 Ounastunturilla, Arctic Centre press release<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Karu n\u00e4ky: Poikkeuksellinen ryp\u00e4s tuhoaa kasvillisuutta Ounastunturilla, Ilta sanomat<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mets\u00e4mittari\u00adperhoset tekev\u00e4t tuhoa Lapissa \u2013 vastaavaa ei ole havaittu koskaan aiemmin, Helsingin sanomat.<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

An exceptionally large outbreak of the Common Heath\u00a0Ematurga atomaria moth has been observed this summer in parts of the Ounastunturi fell, in northwest Finnish Lapland. A CHARTER project researcher Henri Wallen has been investigating this outbreak and its ramifications through the use of satellite imagery, on site visits and with local reindeer herders who have<\/p>\n

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