Author Topic: Ragwort  (Read 4086 times)

I love digging

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Ragwort
« on: August 13, 2014, 22:27:13 »
Ragwort on the allotment - leave it for the cinnabar moth caterpillars which are very prolific - or pull it up?

ancellsfarmer

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Re: Ragwort
« Reply #1 on: August 14, 2014, 06:31:23 »
« Last Edit: August 14, 2014, 06:42:29 by ancellsfarmer »
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galina

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Re: Ragwort
« Reply #2 on: August 04, 2019, 13:01:46 »
Have just found a cinnabar caterpillar on the potatoes!?  Next to a rose bush.  Having recently seen and identified the day flying moth "butterfly" which is so unusual and red, it is obviously here to stay.  Never seen any before.   :sunny:


ancellsfarmer

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Re: Ragwort
« Reply #3 on: August 04, 2019, 13:35:27 »
Is it eating the potato foliage, or just lost/stray? They do enjoy Groundsel as well as the Ragwort. Allegedly, they can synthesise the toxins in Ragwort , to protect themselves from predators, and are considered a 'species of interest' for research into such means of defence.
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galina

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Re: Ragwort
« Reply #4 on: August 04, 2019, 13:56:34 »
Well it must be feeding on groundsel of which there is always some around.  And the caterpillar just got lost on the adjacent potatoes.  Thanks for that Ancellsfarmer.    :icon_cheers:

galina

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Re: Ragwort
« Reply #5 on: August 04, 2019, 16:49:32 »
Found another one weeding ................... and left the groundsel there in place it was on!

This daytime moth is not that common and so pretty.  Thank you Ancells, learned something.  :wave: 

 

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