Christina Websell writes

"K" wrote in message
...
Christina Websell writes

Cinnabar caterpillars do prefer ragwort but can also feed on grasses.


Can you provide a reference for this? I know it can feed on groundsel and
other species of Senecio, but I have never seen reference for it feeding
on grasses.


This subject was done to death on another group and I was told on good
authority at the time that the cinnabar caterpillar can feed on several
species of grass. I didn't keep the link, I didn't think I would need it
again.

The Collins guide to Caterpillars of Britain and Europe only mentions
the various species of Senecio as foodplants. Googling hasn't given me
any reference to cinnabar feeding on grass.

http://www.springerlink.com/content/k5780484n7r20q66/
A research paper from Monks Wood defoliation of ragwort followed by
starvation - which isn't something you'd expect if they could also feed
on grass.

http://www.bugsandweeds.co.uk/moths%20p2.html
says much the same and also offers the interesting snippet that the
toxins in ragwort and groundsel remain in the caterpillar and in the
moth, making them "the most poisonous moths in Britain"

http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=v...pg=PA307&dq=%2
2cinnabar+moth%22+caterpillar+grass&source=bl&ots= zkszdDOyLu&sig=EocDF9qR
Lna23zIkG2F3r5M9QcQ&hl=en&ei=7JdfSuyWAuagjAf5henfD Q&sa=X&oi=book_result&c
t=result&resnum=1
is a publication of of a Royal Entom Soc symposium, and describes how
later instars of the larvae migrate to new (ragwort) foodplants - I
wonder if someone has misinterpreted larvae migrating through grass as
larvae eating grass?

I was surprised by the comment that they could also feed on grass since
caterpillars usually are restricted to a few closely related plants -
and ragwort isn't anywhere near being a close relative of the grasses.



--
Kay