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Produce => Pests & Diseases => Topic started by: ruffmeister on September 08, 2007, 16:07:32

Title: whats this bug?
Post by: ruffmeister on September 08, 2007, 16:07:32
Hi there we have found the following bug growing on our sweedes anyone know what one it is at all.

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Title: Re: whats this bug?
Post by: Fork on September 08, 2007, 16:33:32
They look awfully like Cinnabar Caterpillars to me.
Title: Re: whats this bug?
Post by: Trixiebelle on September 08, 2007, 17:26:31
Cinnabar caterpillars! I agree with Fork!

"Cinnebar caterpillars are considered beneficial because the feed on Ragwort, a wildflower that is toxic to livestock. Cinnebar catepillars are often introduced into Ragwort infested areas as a plant control strategy"

Source: http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://greennature.com/gallery/pictures-of-insects/caterpillar3.jpg&imgrefurl=http://greennature.com/gallery/pictures-of-insects/caterpillar3.html&h=386&w=375&sz=21&hl=en&start=1&tbnid=0f4jW-cRVzRBgM:&tbnh=123&tbnw=119&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dcinnebar%2Bcaterpillars%26gbv%3D2%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DG

I used to work on my cousin's dairy farm when I was about 5-10yrs old. My main job whilst we were staying there was 'ragwort duty': Digging up all the ragwort in the cows' fields. I wish I'd had a bagfull of cinnebar moths whilst I was there!

Oh and a LOVELY memory! My cousin's farm had a really tame and lovely freesian cow called Fanny-Ann. When I went to her field to dig up the ragwort, we always had at least an hour of me riding on her back as she galloped around!
Title: Re: whats this bug?
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on September 08, 2007, 20:09:36
We used to get them all over the place round Oxford wirth all the ragwort there. These days I only see the odd one.
Title: Re: whats this bug?
Post by: Froglegs on September 09, 2007, 10:37:54
I get them on my allotment, and thanks Trixiebelle i know the black n red moth i sometime's see is there mummy or daddy.If the caterpillars is called Cinnabar what's the moth called?. ???
Title: Re: whats this bug?
Post by: redimp on September 09, 2007, 10:56:05
Cinnabar moth ::)
(http://www.bugsandweeds.co.uk/Moths/cinnabar%20moth.jpg)
Title: Re: whats this bug?
Post by: tim on September 09, 2007, 11:41:22
Are they not the ones that cover & demolish Groundsel?
Title: Re: whats this bug?
Post by: Froglegs on September 09, 2007, 11:58:44
Yes Tim that's where i find them on my plot, they eat Groundsel then turn into ... :-[ Cinnabar moths.. :-[... :P. Well if ya don't ask ya don't known. ;)
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