At this time of year, one of the most eye catching sights in our meadows and scrubland is the Cinnabar moth caterpillar (Tyria jacobaeae). With its distinctive black and orange stripes, it is hard to miss as it feeds on its favourite food plant, common ragwort (Jacobaea vulgaris).
Many people know ragwort as a troublesome weed, particularly in farming, and with good reason. At Tidgrove, we do not encourage ragwort in areas where we are harvesting our chalk downland wildflower seed. Allowing it to spread into these production areas could affect the quality and purity of the seed crops that we work so hard to establish.
However, nature is all about balance.
Away from our seed harvesting areas, we deliberately leave areas of ragwort to grow in our scrub and wildlife habitats. These patches provide an essential food source for the Cinnabar moth, whose caterpillars rely almost entirely on ragwort to survive.
The relationship between the two species is remarkable. The caterpillars feed on the leaves and flowers of ragwort, absorbing natural toxins from the plant. These toxins remain in their bodies as they develop into adult moths, making both the caterpillars and the moths unpalatable to birds and other predators. Their striking orange and black colouring acts as a warning, advertising that they are not an easy meal.
The adult Cinnabar moth is just as beautiful as its caterpillar. Unlike many moths, it is active during the day and can often be seen flying across meadows in sunshine, its black forewings marked with vivid crimson streaks and its bright red hindwings flashing as it flies.
At Tidgrove, our aim is to find the right balance between producing high quality native wildflower seed and supporting the wildlife that depends on these habitats. By carefully managing where ragwort is allowed to grow, we can protect our seed production areas while still providing valuable habitat for species such as the Cinnabar moth.
Every plant and every insect has a role to play in a healthy ecosystem. Through thoughtful land management, we can help ensure that both our wildflower meadows and the wildlife that depends on them continue to flourish for generations to come.