On coastal walks in summer I am used to seeing large numbers of bright yellow and black Cinnabar Moth caterpillars strip all the leaves from ragwort plants so was surprised to see a single caterpillar on a stinging nettle several miles from the sea with no ragwort in sight.  In 2010 the attractive red and grey moth was on the list of vulnerable species having declined 83% over 35 years and although they are found throughout England and Wales they are rarer in Scotland where it is more frequently seen in coastal areas.   A recent survey shows it has now spread across the whole of southern Scotland and into coastal areas further north and west.  With the caterpillar’s principle food crop of ragwort it should have little difficulty finding food.