Cinnabar
Tyria jacobaeae
This record describes Tyria jacobaeae (species). Recorded family: Erebidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 32-42 mm. Resembling no other British species, except perhaps the Burnets ( Zygaenidae ). The forewings are black with a red bar and the hind wings are all red. The caterpillars of the Cinnabar moth feed on the leaves and flowers of Common Ragwort ( Senecio jacobaea ). Occasionally they are found on other ragworts and groundsels. Wherever Ragwort grows. Usually in long grassy places. The flight period is May through July. It is generally nocturnal but is quite often disturbed during the day from long grass, low herbage etc. At night, it comes to light. The distinctive larvae, with their yellow and black hoops, generally feed gregariously on Common Ragwort and other related plants. This is a fairly common moth in much of Britain. In a recent survey to determine the status of all macro moths in Britain this species was classified as common.
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Terms from the source record, grouped for readability. Broad terms such as size or location are not measurements or a confirmed range.
Wikipedia reference for Tyria jacobaeae: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tyria jacobaeae.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Erebidae (Underwing, Tiger, Tussock, and Allied Moths)
- Subfamily
- Arctiinae
- Tribe
- Arctiini
- Genus
- Tyria
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Wherever Ragwort grows. Usually in long grassy places.
Seasonal Activity
The flight period is May through July. It is generally nocturnal but is quite often disturbed during the day from long grass, low herbage etc. At night, it comes to light.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The distinctive larvae, with their yellow and black hoops, generally feed gregariously on Common Ragwort and other related plants.
Additional species information
Recorded status
This is a fairly common moth in much of Britain. In a recent survey to determine the status of all macro moths in Britain this species was classified as common.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Tyria jacobaeae. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Lepidoptera includes approximately 180,000 described species of butterflies and moths. Moths outnumber butterflies roughly 10:1. The monarch butterfly's eastern population has declined by more than 80% since the mid-1990s, and the western population by over 95% since the 1980s. The IUCN lists the migratory monarch as Vulnerable.
Ecological role of the group
Butterflies and moths are essential indicators of ecosystem health. As caterpillars, they are a primary food source for birds - a single nest of blue tit chicks requires ~10,000 caterpillars. Adult moths pollinate many night-blooming plants.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Lepidoptera are critical pollinators. In Europe, grassland butterfly species have declined by almost 50% since the early 1990s. In the UK, three-quarters of butterflies are in decline. In the U.S., five butterfly species have gone extinct since 1950, with 29 listed as endangered.
Recorded sources for this group: IUCN Red List, Xerces Society, USFWS, PNAS, WWF. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Cinnabar (10)
Frequently Asked Questions About Cinnabar
What is Cinnabar?
Cinnabar (Tyria jacobaeae) is a species in the family Erebidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Cinnabar?
10mm to 40mm (0.39" to 1.57")
Where is Cinnabar found?
Habitat: Wherever Ragwort grows. Usually in long grassy places.
When is Cinnabar active?
Cinnabar: seasonal activity - The flight period is May through July. It is generally nocturnal but is quite often disturbed during the day from long grass, low herbage etc. At night, it comes to light..
What is the life cycle of a Cinnabar?
The distinctive larvae, with their yellow and black hoops, generally feed gregariously on Common Ragwort and other related plants.