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caterpillar id
Posted: Fri Jul 29, 2011 10:43 pm
by dillon
hi all could anyone id these for me there were literally hundreds all on the same plants.......many thanks
Re: caterpillar id
Posted: Sat Jul 30, 2011 2:30 am
by Butterflymax
I'm not really an expert, but I believe that is the caterpillar of the Cinnabar moth. I've only ever seen it on ragwort, but I don't think that's ragwort in your photo.
Re: caterpillar id
Posted: Sat Jul 30, 2011 11:57 am
by MikeOxon
Think 'Rugby jersey' and you have a Cinnabar caterpillar! There are several different Ragworts and I think this is one of them.
Mike
Re: caterpillar id
Posted: Sat Jul 30, 2011 12:09 pm
by Paul Wetton
I think it is the common Ragwort but the flower heads have not fully opened yet.
The caterpillar eats the poisonous plant and becomes poisonous itself, hence the orange and black warning colours to would be predators.
Re: caterpillar id
Posted: Sat Jul 30, 2011 12:30 pm
by dillon
many thanks for you replys................