Cinnabar Moth Caterpillar

Scientific Name: Tyria jacobaeae

Order & Family: Order Lepidoptera, Family Erebidae

Size: Commonly reach lengths of up to 30 mm (1.1 inches).

Cinnabar Moth Caterpillar

Natural Habitat

Open grassy areas, meadows, and dunes; typically found on common ragwort plants.

Diet & Feeding

Herbivorous; specifically feeds on the foliage and flowers of Common Ragwort (Senecio jacobaea).

Behavior Patterns

They are diurnal and feed in groups during early development stages. They sequester toxic alkaloids from ragwort plants as a defense mechanism, making them unpalatable to predators.

Risks & Benefits

Benefits include acting as a biological control agent for ragwort, which is a weed toxic to livestock. Do not handle, as they can cause skin irritation or rashes in humans due to their defensive chemicals.

Identified on: 3/17/2026