Yellow and black striped caterpillar - friend or foe?

[greenishfing]

While weeding today I've kept finding smooth yellow and black striped caterpillars on various weeds (maybe from the cinnabar moth?). At the moment they don't seem to be on any of my veg. Does anyone know anything about them?

I don't want to squish them if they are munching only my weeds although it seems hard to believe.

[Nicos]

Their caterpillars eat groundsel and ragwort....so goodies really.

The RSPB: A to Z of a Wildlife Garden: Cinnabar moth

[Nicos]

This is better...

Cinnabar moth - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[greenishfing]

Okay, they've got a reprieve unless I find them straying onto any of my veg for dessert.

[veggiechicken]

As ever, a photo would help to be sure! I've always seen cinnabar moth caterpillars on ragwort - hope you don't have much of that in your garden.

[Martin H]

I've seen them on groundsel at my previous allotment, that's most likely what they are eating on greenishfing's plot too.

[greenishfing]

I've seen them on groundsel at my previous allotment, that's most likely what they are eating on greenishfing's plot too.

Yes, it's groundsel I'm seeing them on. I'm now lobbing them into the abandoned neighbouring plot as I pull out the weeds.

[Martin H]

That's probably the kindest thing, throw them somewhere where there are weeds. They aren't going to eat any crops.