Ragwort and the Cinnabar Moth Caterpillar

Today's the day ........................ for a matched pair

Ragwort (Senecio jacobaea) is a tall plant with bright yellow flowers that can often be seen growing by the side of motorways, in fields, on derelict land and occasionally in gardens. Unfortunately it is so poisonous to horses, donkeys and other livestock that it is the subject of its very own Act of Parliament - the Ragwort Control Act 2003.

Cinnabar moth caterpillars (Tyria jacobaeae) are a natural control for ragwort. They eat it because the toxins in the plant protect the caterpillars from being eaten by birds. They can strip a plant in a few days - one caterpiller takes around three minutes to eat one flower, and this helps prevent seeding.

One caterpillar's meat - is another animal's poison so it seems ................