Moths not on the Wing (Part 2)

Here's a picture of something that most people should be able to identify - the caterpillar of the Cinnabar Moth Tyria jacobaea which feeds on a common plant species in Northern Ireland - Ragwort Senecio jacobaea.

 

Ragwort sometimes gets a bad rep as it is poisonous to some stock if eaten, particularly horses and ponies. As such many landowners try to eliminate the plant but it is the sole food plant of the Cinnabar and acts as a nectar source for a wide variety of insect species. No fear though - you couldn't get rid of all the Ragwort if you tried!!