Latin name:  Tyria jacobaeae

Size:  Wingspan up to 45mm

Distribution:  Found in most parts of the UK. In Scotland mainly in the south.

Months seen:  May to July

Habitat:  Waste ground, fields and gardens

Food:  The yellow/orange and black striped caterpillars feed on ragwort, and sometimes groundsel or coltsfoot.

Special features:  This is one of the most frequently seen day-flying moths in the UK, primarily because of its bright colouring. The cinnabar also flies at night.

The caterpillars of the cinnabar feed mostly on ragwort. Toxins they ingest from the plant help to protect the caterpillars, by making them extremely distasteful to predators.

Related Pages

• Methods of Controlling Ragwort
• UK Safari Moth Section

Sightings

2009 - Branston Water Park, Burton upon Trent - Linda Wright
2009 - Moore Nature Reserve (Nr Warrington) - David Smith
2009 - Spencer’s wood, Reading - Chris Parker
2009 - Ashenground Bolnore Wood, Haywards Heath - Lorraine Maynard
2009 - Bishopthorpe, York - Helen Burley
2009 - Bournemouth, Dorset - Andrea Ross
2009 - Upshire, Waltham Abbey, Essex - John Rundell
2009 - Exe Estuary near Lympstone, Devon - Beryl Ladd
2009 - off Wellington Parade, Walmer, Kent - Tina Hanak
2009 - West Malling, Kent - John Chilton
2009 - Trowse, nr Norwich - John Lewis
2009 - Badshot Lea Village Infant School, Farnham, Surrey - Sherry Mansfield
2009 - Kenfig Nature Reserve, South Wales - Kris Evans
2009 - Potteric Carr Wildlife Reserve, near Doncaster - Steve Wright
2009 - Oldmoor RSPB Reserve, South Yorkshire - Steve Wright
2009 - Golf Club, Hullbridge, Essex - Peter D King
2009 - Cannock Chase, Staffordshire - Caroline Morgan
2009 - near Banbury, Oxfordshire - Hazel Salmons
2009 - Slough, Berkshire - Julie Rayner
2009 - Barnham Broom, Norfolk - Ivor White
2009 - Porthcawl, South Wales - Debbie Emmitt
2009 - Banks, Nr Southport, Lancashire - Linda Pye
2009 - Shireoaks Marina, Chesterfield Canal, Worksop - Jake Ryalls
2009 - Padbury, Buckinghamshire - Sue Barnard
2009 - Newdigate Brickworks, Surrey - Peter Camber
2009 - Marton Mere Nature Reserve - Martin Day
2009 - Stanley Park, Blackpool - Martin Day
2009 - Dursley, Glos - Alex Lyons
2009 - Appley Bridge, near Wigan, Lancashire - Ron Murray
2009 - St David's Head, Pembs - Josie Rylands