Research is being done into a one of the world’s rarest moths, which only exists on Loe Bar beach near Helston.

The Cornish Rustic Sandhill moth has astounded experts because it has chooses to live on the shingle beach and survives winter storms, blistering summer heat and crashing waves that break over it.

It was discovered in 1974 and the sub species has not been seen anywhere else in the world.

Only about 200 of the moths are found on the half-mile shingle beach each year and are threatened by climate change and rising sea levels.

Now a team from the University of Exeter and environmental consultancy Spalding Associates are studying the moths in order to unravel the mystery of how they live in such a harsh climate how they got there and how best to protect them from extinction.

Adrian Spalding, director of Spalding Associates, has been studying Sandhill Rustic moths for years. He said: “This small brownish moth may not look special but is perfectly adapted to living in this hostile environment, exposed to winter gales and summer drought. It's the only place where this sub species is found.”

The moths only live between five and seven days and spends nearly 11 months as a caterpillar and one month as an egg.

Mr Spalding added: “It's certainly one of the rarest moths in Britain.”

Mr Spalding said the latest research would help identify whether the moth was part of the sub species or was in fact an independent species of moth.