Larvae Of The Cinnabar Moth Tyria jacobaeae

[Harold Gough]

We allow Ragwort Senecio jacobaea to grow in parts of our garden for this species. At this time of year the moth lays it eggs on the unopened buds of the plant (also of Groundsel S. vulgaris). Ragwort is deadly to horses, which can avoid the green plant but not dried foliage in hay, so it it not tolerated in meadows.

These (about 1cm long) are first instar, with the bands of black spots on a weak black background, and one with the solid bands of later instars:



First instar and two second instar:



Note the chewing damage to the unopened buds.

Harold
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Happiness is having the right adapter.

My manual flash setup for high magnification:

http://www.photomacrography.net/forum/viewtopic.php?p=117843#117843