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Very useful little critter!
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| [Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note |
These are the caterpillars which will later grow out into the Tyria Jacobaeae or Cinnabar Moth. In Holland, the moth is called the St. Jacobsvlinder (St. Jacobs Butterfly). An excellent presentation of the adult moth can be found here. Thank you mogens-j!
The little critters are literally all over one plant which is situated in my front garden, and it is actually a very good thing I photographed them and looked them up. Not only is the caterpillar itself poisonous (as I already suspected from the bright colors), but the plant they are sitting on is much more dangerous than they are.
Cinnabar Moth caterpillars feed almost solely on a little plant called Ragwort - Senecio jacobaea (or St. Jacobskruiskruid, St. Jacobscrossweed in Dutch). This specific type of plant used to be rare in Holland, but it is growing more common with the minute - which is not a good thing.
In most countries where it is common, land owners are ordered by court of law to remove it from their property, as it is highly poisonous for mammals, especially horses and other cattle. The effect of the poison is cumulative, and will cause serious liver damage which can be fatal.
Needless to say, the little striped fellows can stay in my garden as long as they wish!
Lifecycle of the Cinnabar Moth:
Overwintering State: During the pupil stage, usually in debris or under rocks. Many pupas can be lost, because the pupa cannot be in water for long periods of time.
Egg Stage: The eggs are laid on the bottom side of the ragwort leaves during midsummer and the spring. Eggs turn from yellow to a pearly-gray previous to hatching. They are about 1 mm in diameter.
Larval Stage: The larvae hatch about two weeks after the eggs are laid and eat the old eggs and the bottom of the leaf until they work their way up to the top of the tansy ragwort. Once they have eaten all of one plant, they will move up to 800 meters to find more ragwort. Most larvae are about 2.5 centimeters long, have yellow and black bands, and live in groups of 10 to 30.
Pupil Stage: The pupil stage lasts for about nine months, where they stay under rocks, bark, or debris. The pupae are about 20 to 25 millimeters long and are dark brown. They can lose up to thirty-three percent of their body weight during this stage before they die.
Adult Stage: Tyria jacobaeae lay 73 to 285 eggs per female (3) two weeks after they come out. They fly during the day and are attracted to light. |
lglandon, manyee, phlr, Signal-Womb, mogens-j, AdrianW, rlortie, manss0fl, sway, Janice has marked this note useful
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Wendy,
Very nice composition.
This caterpillar have a nice color
DOF can be improved a little.
TFS, Laurent
- manyee
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3068 W: 231 N: 5840]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-g-g.gif)
(19618) - [2005-07-18 16:01]
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Super sharp shot on that colorful caterpillar. Very interesting and informative note. TFS, Wendy. : )
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- phlr
(2772)
- [2005-07-18 16:33]
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What a shot!
I never saw these caterpillars.
Very impressive.
Very good job!
Great shot of the far caterpillar Wendy, its a pity at least one more caterpillar was not in focus. What I do like is the crowded composition and various shades of green, effective frame also. Regards Steve.
Excellent capture Wendy. Back in June I got some shots of the adult image which I posted to-day (I have never seen the caterpillar in nature).
Very natural colours and good dof/sharpness on the two of the caterpillars. Composition is very good and I appreciate the note very much, it is very informative - thanks a lot.
Nice capture Wendy. The one in focus is really impressive. I wonder if he's going down or up.
Background and colors are very good. I like your frame too.
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- sway
(1212)
- [2005-07-19 4:13]
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Nice photo.
Thanks for the very informative and interesting note.
Great looking caterpillar.
Good focus but a little more DOF would help to bring the others into the shot.
Nice background.
Thanks
:)
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- Janice
(17197)
- [2005-07-19 5:45]
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Nice one Wendy, the caterpillars look good. And they are so different from the Cinnabar Moth too. Good composition and details. Well done.
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- NINIX
![Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 164 W: 48 N: 332]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-s-g.gif)
(2764) - [2005-08-02 5:09]
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Hi Wendy,
Beautifull detailed picture you made. I saw the same in France and didn't know what it was.
Thanks,
Hendrik
Hallo Wendy,
Pracht shot van deze mooie rups(en)
Scherpte, kleur, details, compositie, POV, DOF en Notes zijn Perfect
TFS Thijs
ps de link werkt niet of niet meer
![Silver Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 29 W: 7 N: 65]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/s-n-g.gif){kind=small}
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor [C: 831 W: 135 N: 5]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-g-n.gif)
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