Forum home› Wildlife gardening

What's the name of this stunning butterfly?

Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 10,309
in Wildlife gardening
I just noticed this little beauty flitting around the garden.
It paused long enough on the lawn for me to get a pic


Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.

Posts

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 52,151
    edited May 2022
    I think it's quite common @Pete.8, but I can't remember it's name.
    @wild edges will know   :)

    Cinnabar moth 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • ShepherdsBarnShepherdsBarn Posts: 401
    I think it's a cinnabar moth.
  • ShepsSheps Posts: 1,723
    Agreed.
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 10,309
    Thanks @Fairygirl that's the one!
    Thanks too @ShepherdsBarn :)

    I can't ever recall seeing one before


    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 83,943
    Aren't they gorgeous ... the yellow and black striped caterpillars feed on Ragwort ... and they absorb the toxins in the ragwort and this makes them taste unpleasant to birds that might otherwise eat them, so they avoid them.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wU2Gx2bttNU

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 10,309
    The moths are gorgeous - not so sure about all those caterpillars wriggling around tho :)
    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • FireFire Posts: 17,116
    you can’t have the gorgeous without the wriggle 
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 10,309
    Fire said:
    you can’t have the gorgeous without the wriggle 
    Not the first time I've been told that 😂
    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • februarysgirlfebruarysgirl Posts: 714
    @Dovefromabove I had some ragwort growing in my front garden a couple of years back but didn't know what it was so left it until it flowered to see if I liked it or not. I didn't but the bees, butterflies and hoverflies LOVED it so I left it. It was crawling with cinnabar caterpillars but they never really seemed to really get stuck into it 🤷‍♀️
  • CloggieCloggie Posts: 1,455
    We had a herb patch in the last garden that these daytime moths would visit a lot.  I'm not sure if it was Marjoram that they were after.  We had a seating area nearby and loved to sit with a cup of tea and watch them and the bees.
Sign In or Register to comment.