Sometimes the garden throws up a creature so outrageously colourful that you have to stop whatever you’re doing and stare.
That happened to me when I spotted this cinnabar moth caterpillar making its way through the grass. Look at those colours! Bright yellow stripes wrapped around a velvety black body… Of course, those dazzling colours aren’t just a fashion statement. They’re nature’s version of a giant neon sign that says: “I taste awful!”
Cinnabar caterpillars spend most of their lives munching on ragwort, a plant packed with poisonous chemicals. Instead of being harmed by them, these clever little stripy sausages steal the toxins for themselves, making them an equally unpleasant snack for hungry birds. What a scam.
My favourite part, though, wasn’t the colours.. It was trying to work out which end was the front. Honestly, while it was sitting perfectly still, I hadn’t the faintest idea. Both ends looked remarkably caterpillar-ish. Only when it finally started waddling away did I think, “Ah… that’s the head.” Mystery solved. 😅
As it climbed a grass stalk, I could finally admire those ridiculously tiny legs gripping the stem. The front legs looked like miniature hands while the little squishy prolegs further back clung on to each other like tiny Velcro pads. Watching them all work together was strangely adorable.
I also noticed something odd. Two sections of its body seemed to have… no feet at all!
It turns out that’s completely normal. Like butterfly caterpillars, cinnabar caterpillars have six proper legs near the front and several pairs of soft prolegs further back, with gaps in between. Those missing “feet” are what give them that delightfully stretchy, slightly wobbly walk.
While exploring the vast expanse of a maple leaf, the little acrobat dangled from it with complete confidence, balancing on its bottom while the rest of its body stretched out into the unknown. It was waving around in search of the next handhold, without the slightest concern that there was nothing underneath it. I, on the other hand, felt slightly nervous on its behalf.
A stripy moth? No! 🤭
This cheerful yellow-and-black caterpillar disappears into a cocoon and eventually emerges as one of Britain’s most striking moths. Gone are the golden stripes, replaced by velvety black wings slashed with brilliant crimson-red.
Is it safe to handle one?
Although they’re poisonous if something tries to eat them, they’re harmless to touch. Even so, they’re delicate little creatures, so it’s best to leave them where they are. If one needs rescuing from a path or another dangerous spot, encourage it onto a leaf or a piece of card rather than picking it up with your fingers. And as with any wildlife, a quick hand wash afterwards is always a good idea.
I have to admit, this cute little sausage completely won me over. Between the impossible colours, the tiny grappling legs, the identity crisis over which end was which, and the surprise transformation into a spectacular red-and-black moth, it’s difficult not to be charmed.
