I have a wild corner in my backyard where I allow weeds to grow uncontrolled. There are a couple of ragworts, and I have been keeping an eye for cinnabar moth larvae since mid-July. Well, today I was greeted by this striped fella, but it seems that there is only one. I looked all over the ragwort plants and couldn't find any other caterpillars. Hopefully, this one will survive to the pupal stage and emerge as an adult next year.
by Shhhh_Peaceful
6 Comments
Cinnabar moth caterpillars support Kilkenny… so I reckon that “Kilkenny cats” might as well refer to Kilkenny caterpillars 🐛😄
I also keep some ragwort for the same reason! There were loads of caterpillars on mine last year, but none this year 😢 But the flowers are good for pollinators too and goldfinches and the like love the seeds 👍
Buckets of ragwort in the wild patches of TU Dublin’s grangegorman campus but very few cinnabar moth caterpillars to be seen.
https://preview.redd.it/h6g03yllswfd1.jpeg?width=2850&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=daf9c1899459dcac78112de737c88eba9bd6398e
One of mine is a real hang out spot.
Love to see it. We have a nice population of them in our garden too. All mowing of that bit is now off limits 😊
https://preview.redd.it/7al3uobvvwfd1.png?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b4dacc15a648124954cdc5a64ee24a70e7161cd8
I have so many of these caterpillars on my one, they have eaten all the leaves. Should I grab some more for them, or will they find a way? The kids love looking at them.