I think this is the larvae of the cinnabar moth, called
la goutte-de-sang (drop of blood) in French. The names describe the markings on the wings of the adult moth, not the caterpillar. According to my
extensive quick and dirty research, they like to lay eggs on ragwort, a very common plant in and around the vineyards and other fields nearby. I'm pretty sure this one was on a ragwort plant when I saw it.
Not hard to miss this one. He (or she) is wearing my high school colors: orange and black.
Our vegetable garden is starting to produce. I harvested the first zucchini yesterday. There are two more to pick today. And so it begins. We're a long way from tomatoes, still. And the beans are just starting to make blossoms. Everything else is growing along.
Ragwort is a declared noxious weed here, although I am not sure about its prevalence now. I don't know the moth.
ReplyDeleteJust looked up what the no this look like. Beautiful. Exciting about those fresh vegetables.
ReplyDeleteThe no was supposed to be the moth!
ReplyDeletePretty critter. It’s time for garden photos, isn’t it? :)
ReplyDeleteAlways exciting when that bean blossom drops off and reveals a tiny bean.
ReplyDeleteI, too, must research the cinnabar moth! Sounds beautiful!
ReplyDeleteandrew, it grows a lot here, but not too much.
ReplyDeletemitch, I can't say that I've ever noticed the moth in the wild.
bettyann, oh, perhaps... ;)
sheila, agreed!
mary, it's interesting looking, for sure.
never mind the zukes which produce like bunnies. I want some toms!
ReplyDelete