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19-08-2003, 01:44 AM

Stephen Howard wrote:
On 18 Aug 2003 11:11:33 GMT, wrote:

Ron wrote:

"Kate Morgan" wrote in message

Please would you all check your lawns for ragwort, I know it is a time
consuming job but it is a bad year for the nasty weed.

Snip

I trust that you do not use broad band insecticides.

One explanation for the increase in ragwort is most likely the reduction in
the tiger moth population for their caterpillars eat the weed and I've seen

Not tiger moths, it's the Cinnabar moth caterpillars that eat ragwort.

The Cinnabar is a Tiger moth.. just not THE Tiger moth.

In my Richard South the 'classic' tiger moths are of genus Arctia whereas
the Cinnabar moth is in a genus by itself, Hypocrita. In appearance
it's closer to the Footman moths than the Tiger moths in my opinion.
Also the classic Tiger moth caterpillars are 'wooolly bears' and the
Cinnabar moth caterpillar is nothing like them.

However I will concede that the Cinnabar Moth is quite closely related
to the Tiger Moths.

--
Chris Green )