Cinnabar caterpillar

The Cinnabar moth is a widespread moth throughout the UK and can often be seen during daylight hours. The moth is brightly coloured with crimson hindwings bordered with dusky black. The caterpillar is even more striking with a bright orange body and black transverse bands. Both the moth and caterpillar can be found in meadows, wasteland, road verges and downland where the foodplants ragwort occur. Moths are present from May to July and during June, females lay large batches of eggs on the undersides of ragwort leaves. The caterpillars hatch out in July and are active until August.

Date: 28th July 2007

Location: EWT Langdon Conservation Centre, Dunton, Essex