Cinnabar Moth Caterpillars

These stripey Cinnabar Moth caterpillars were on a Ragwort by the roadside just near my house. The moths are a bold red & black colour, but the caterpillars, which are often found like here in large groups, come in yellow & black stripes.

Ragwort contains toxic alkaloids which are unappetising (and in high doses even potentially dangerous) to grazing animals, however the moth caterpillars are able to sequester these toxins which affords them protection from insectivores. Black ants were also present, which are often associated with aphids, a few of which were also present. The ants can attack the caterpillars, presumably when they are small, to protect the plant for the aphids, which they then farm.

Cinnabar Moth - Tyria jacobaeae (#587)

This strikingly-coloured Cinnabar Moth, with its amazing vivid red on the wings, was resting up on the leaves of the Pyracantha. This moth is usually associated with Ragwort, which is the food-plant for its yellow & black striped caterpillars. It’s a pretty widespread moth in Britain, but mostly seen in more open habitats than my garden.

#587 Cinnabar Moth (Tyria jacobaeae)