Fearless caterpillar

The caterpillars of the Cinnabar moth chomp away on Common Ragwort in the full glare of daylight and showing up like elongated JCBs. Their warning colouration seems to work with birds, who leave them well alone - not surprising as they are able to process and store cyanide-type poison from the ragwort they feed on. This poison is passed on to the adult day-flying moth, which has similar black and red warning colours. However, many are apparently eaten by spiders and beetles who are not affected by the toxins. Also, their evolution of a clever protection mechanism using chemicals in their food plant, has unintended consequences - over the next few weeks hoards of 'conservationists' will be pulling up and disposing of millions of ragwort plants on nature reserves and other wild areas across the UK. This annual ritual takes place because the same toxic mix of chemicals in ragwort that the Cinnabar uses can be very poisonous to horses and cattle, especially once the plants are dead and dried out. Although ragwort is a great plant for a whole host of insects, conservation organisations are keen to control in for the sake of farmers and horse-owning neighbours, although there is a growing debate about whether the risks are overstated. One thing's for sure: however energetically we pull out plants in our patch, there will be more next year, probably enough to ensure the survival of this colourful insect.