Red List: Least Concern (LC). GB Status: Common.

Identification

Usually distinctive..

Recording Method.

Can be disturbed by day. Attracted to light. Larvae easily identified on Ragwort.

Life cycle

Overwinters as a pupa. Larvae June to August. Pupates in a flimsy cocoon underground.

Larval foodplants

Common Ragwort, other ragworts and groundsel.

Habitat

Grazed grassland including sand-dunes and heathland.

History 

Gordon (1913) found this a rare moth having only taken five around the Corsemalzie area, Wigtownshire.

Cunningham (1947) in the ‘Transactions’ stated it was not uncommon during 1945-47 at Southerness (VC73). During the 1970s it even managed to come to the Rothamsted station at Bridge of Dee on five occasions.

Since the 1980s onwards with progressively more recorders, this day-flying moth which also comes to light, has been found to be widespread across the region.

The adult Cinnabar is poisonous to birds; this actually comes via the caterpillar feeding on Common Ragwort.