Cheshire
Macro-Moths - Cinnabar Moth
The
Cinnabar Moth - Tyria jacobaeae Linnaeus
Imago / Adult:
The adult moth (imago) varies between 35mm and 45 mm
wingspan. It is a resident species which flies during the daytime
and also late at night when it very occasional comes to light. It
is single brooded and flies between late May and the end of July.
It is a widespread moth in the Vice-Counties of Cheshire (VC-58) and
South Lancashire (VC-59), usually being found in meadows and pastures
or even on waste-land and brown-field sites, especially where there
is a good growth of ragwort.
Larva:
A very distinctive and easily recognised larva, usually
24 to 28mm in length. The body segments are comprised of alternating
black and bright orange-yellow bands with the head, prolegs and setae
being black. This is definitive warning colouration as the larvae
sequester many of the poisonous alkaloids found within the Ragwort
foodplants and also contain high percentages of Cyanide.
Foodplant(s):
The foodplants consist of many species of Ragwort, including
such species as: Common Ragwort, Oxford Ragwort, and Groundsel. It
has been recorded feeding on Colt's-foot. The larvae feed between
May and July.
Overwintering:
The moth overwinters as a pupa (chrysalis) in the
ground beneath its larval foodplant.