Science Forums 2

[Turtle]

Originally Posted by Mercedes Benzene

It looks like the caterpillar of a Cinnabar Moth

Beautiful caterpillar that turns into a beautiful moth! Don't know if they're found all the way up there though, so it could be something else?

Was that ragwort that they were on? 'Cause that's what they like to eat!

you rock!! it may have been Ragwort, but i didn't collect a sample and saw no blooms to photograph. i looked it up just now & the leaves look like what the critters were on. i see from your article that Cinnabar moth larvae may feed on Groundsel too, which we have here but it doesn't grow as tall as these plants were.

i have wanted to explore this particular field for about 3 years now, and i might try & get back. there is a large Garry Oak all alone in the field center and when we got in there under it we found 3 or 4 Cherry trees with fruit not quite ready. the Oak is easily 3 1/2 feet in diameter and likely 400+ years old. i'm thinkin' i outa be thinkin' about trying to get back there alone soon. anyway, i also photographed & ID'd 2 new wildflowers and have them in my album and in the Wildflower Social Group. (Album images contain common & scientific names and other pertinent descriptive data; click on them to view. )

also found an Indian Plum in fruit along the field edge (ID'd these last year in Lechtenberg) and had myself a tasty treat. my companions were, shall we say, less enthusuastic at the prospect. can't blame them i guess as the fruit is mostly seed and not so much what one would right off say is sweet.

oooppsss...got off track there. thanks again for the id Mr. Benz. i owe you one.