Cinnabar Moth Caterpillar

Natural Habitat

Grassy areas, meadows, heathlands, and coastal dunes, particularly where common ragwort grows

Diet & Feeding

Herbivorous; primarily feeds on the leaves and flowers of Common Ragwort (Jacobaea vulgaris), and occasionally Groundsel

Behavior Patterns

Gregarious feeders that often live in large clusters; they absorb alkaloids from their host plant which makes them distasteful to predators, warning them with bright orange and black stripes

Risks & Benefits

Benefits the ecosystem by acting as a biological control for the invasive/toxic common ragwort; they pose no direct risk to humans, though their toxic internal chemicals can harm animals if eaten

Identified on: 6/18/2026