Every time I pick up the camera and go out I hope to find something I haven't found before. It is like a double bonus - fresh photos and learning something new, innit?
During one of the trips in the spring I saw those tall plants being stripped from leaves and flowers. Only after I got closer I saw they were covered in those orange caterpillars!
You know those moments when you walk and you don't realize what you walked into? Yea.. it was one of those. I looked around and they were EVERYWHERE! All the plants around me were full of those orange hungry beasties.
Cinnabar moth caterpillar
The plants the feed on were almost my height so it was quite the view to see them all around me. I can't figure out what it was as they were completely stripped to bare stems. The caterpillars feed on Senecio vulgaris and Senecio triangularis. They both grow freely around and I have often shot them with their yellow flowers and then later on fluffy seeds. Those didn't really have a chance to get to seed stage...
They are definitely not shy with those colours. The orange is a warning for other animals. As the feed on the plants they absorb toxic and very bitter substance the plant has. I read that there is one bird that will eat those though - cuckoos. I guess they don't mind the bitterness and the hair.
Not knowing what exactly they are I did not look any further for other forms. A bit further I did find a lovely black and red moth though, which they all will turn into. But that I found out only back at home. I have some photos that I will show another time.
Slowly.... very slowly I am staring to hate moths a little less. There are some amazing forms out there (just please stay away more me for now!).
Aren't they all lovely?
And cant you see what a lovely job they did stripping the poor plants?
This one posed :)
Shot with Nikon D5500 + Sigma 105mm lens
All photos and text are my own.
Beautiful caterpillars and very beautiful photos!
I don’t know why, but I was always afraid to touch the caterpillars.
Even knowing that they are not dangerous, I still will not touch them.
I don't touch them either :p
So we are both cowardly :-))))))
Hahahah :D
I the plant they were feeding on is Ragwort Jacobaea vulgaris. At least that is the plant they feed on here in the UK. The Latin name of the plant is a clue to the moths Latin name (Tyria jacobaeae)
Some awesome pictures here! and i know I am biased, but I think all moths are awesome!
The moth expert! :))
There is lots of those growing around here too, so they will not be starving. I am surprised I have never seen the moth before though.
Thank you very much!
They do look awesome on photos, gotta give them that :)
Ha! I wish!
They are particularly common where the food-plant grows, and now you've seen them once, you will begin to see them everywhere! 😉
I hope so! I hope to get some better shots :)
Nice photos and interesting facts on these voracious eaters, I guess they need to fatten up for their transformation.
Yea... they are like hoovers :D
I like the name cinnabar and they ARE so very colorful !
Fits them just right :)
I love those colours too!
What bold looking springy characters. The moths look amazing too.
And very photogenic :)
Moths are awesome! One step at a time :)
Are they!? :P
Working on it...
Wow! These look like mini snakes to me!! So many! Pity! They are not edible!! Otherwise people here would deep fry them!! Crispy crunch! LoL
Yum! Stick them on a skewer and fry with some spices...
🤢
What a cool catterpillar! Let's have them well fed, the cuckoos will thank you! 😉
Hahaha the damn cuckoos ate all the figs! Probably to counter the bitterness of the bugs :p
Lovely ;)
Dziekuje :)
The caterpillar looks great, but the moth is a real eye-catcher with its red and black coloration.
It really is! I knew they exist but I never saw one myself. This was the first time. Very impressive!
Such an amazing photography sir thanks a lot for sharing 🙏✌️
Thank you! :)