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Tyria jacobaeae caterpillars
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| [Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note |
Tyria jacobaeae / Sint-jacobsvlinder / Cinnabar Moth / Blutbär Jakobskrautbär / Proporzyca marzymłódka
The Cinnabar moth (Tyria jacobaeae) is a brightly coloured arctiid moth, found in Europe and western and central Asia. It has been introduced into New Zealand, Australia and North America to control poisonous ragwort, which its larvae feed on. The moth is named after the red mineral cinnabar because of the red patches on its predominantly black wings. Cinnabar moths have a wingspan of 32-42 mm (1.3-1.7 in).
Cinnabar moths are day-flying insects. Like many other brightly coloured moths, it is poisonous; More specifically, the most poisonous species of moth in Britain. The larvae are immune to the alkaloid poisons from ragwort and groundsel which it feeds on, and assimilate them, becoming poisonous themselves.[1] The bright colours of both the larve and the moths act as a warning sign to predators rather than camouflage and as such they remain relative unkempt by the foodchain in most populations.
Like several other Arctiidae moth larvae, the Cinnabar caterpillars can turn cannabalistic. This can be due to lack of food, but they can eat other Cinnabar larvae for no apparent reason. The larvae are jet black and orange/yellow striped, feed ravenously and can grow up to 30mm, many times larger than their egg. Cinnabar Caterpillars are voracious eaters and can strip entire patches of ragwort clean, this is due to them reproducing in great number,often hundreds in a very small area, also a result of their low predation.
Very few often survive to the pupae stage mainly due to them completely consuming the foodsource before reaching maturity, this could be a possible explanation for their tendency to engage in seemingly random cannibalistic behaviour, as many will die from starvation.
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinnabar_moth
Harm |
phlr, anel, Juyona, TAZ has marked this note useful
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Hello Harm,
I like really your portfolio and I visit them. Today's post is also very nice with superb colors on caterpillars and BG. Great focus and details. Composition and POV also very nice. TFS, well done
PS: Thanks again for your kind permission for using some photos
Ahmet
- Juyona
![Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2273 W: 10 N: 2661]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-s-g.gif)
(15669) - [2007-12-11 11:55]
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Hola Harm,
buen trabajo,
foco estupendo y bellos detalles.
buen tyrabajo,
saludos
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- TAZ
(10926)
- [2007-12-13 22:52]
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Hello Harm,
This tiny duo is realy nice and you have well captured them.
The "+++" : Simple composition, nice subjects, POV, sharpness, DOF, neutral blurred BG, useful complementary note...
The "-" : nothing...
Well done and thanks for sharing,
Christian
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 108 W: 7 N: 1849]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-n-g.gif){kind=small}
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1838 W: 82 N: 4038]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-g-g.gif)
(12893)