Cinnabar Moths

Bill Dickie

These little dark grey & magenta moths are our best defense against the noxious, introduced Tansy Ragwort. The larvae (beautifully striped black & yellow caterpillars) feast on Tansy buds and flowers.  Tansy Ragwort causes sclerosis of the liver in cattle, goats & horses.  It has had a critical impact on pastures in Oregon and Washington and is manageable in BC.  The introduction of the Cinnabar Moth has been extremely helpful in the eradication of Tansy. The other removal method is mowing prior to flowering.  We are happy to see a healthy increase of the Cinnabar Moth on Thetis in the last couple of years.  

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