Ragwort - pros and cons

[Dom Greves]

Cinnabar moth - the only living creature which eats the dreaded Ragwort as far as I'm aware - may they multiply and prosper at the same furious rate as your forum post responses!

Anyone needing a new challenge - could you turn your attentions to my Mystery Yellow Caterpillar please! It is not a cinnabar larva I promise you.

[aeshna5]

Originally Posted by Dom Greves

Cinnabar moth - the only living creature which eats the dreaded Ragwort as far as I'm aware - may they multiply and prosper at the same furious rate as your forum post responses!

Anyone needing a new challenge - could you turn your attentions to my Mystery Yellow Caterpillar please! It is not a cinnabar larva I promise you.

There are a few invertebrates that feed on Ragwort, though Cinnabar is the best known. Also the flowers are a magnet to many nectaring species.

[Jason Green]

Agreed, there are plenty of insects that find it useful. I look forward to it appearing locally later in the year as a great attractant for invertebrates. There seem to be plenty of misconceptions with this plant, unfortunately.

[Dom Greves]

I'm afraid my feelings towards ragwort are forever tainted having spent hundreds of sweaty hours forcibly removing the stuff by hand. I believe it's a legal requirement on areas bordering land grazed by horses unfortunately. Any idea specifically which invertebrates munch on it (destructively) out of interest?

[animartco]

Originally Posted by Jason Green

Agreed, there are plenty of insects that find it useful. I look forward to it appearing locally later in the year as a great attractant for invertebrates. There seem to be plenty of misconceptions with this plant, unfortunately.

Yes, jason, yours for instance. Why is there so much support for this pernicious weed? Because it is so easy to grow for total non gardeners and looks as good as solidago so people think they are helping nature by growing a 'wildflower' Oh so clever!
I am not seeking to wipe it out, (as if that would ever be possible!) I just don't want to see it become as much of a nuisance as knotweed, which it could easily do if people propagate it instead of pulling it out and throwing it in the middle of the compost heap.

[Jason Green]

If Ragwort really didn't have a place, we wouldn't have species that are reliant on it - think of . There are apparently 30 species that are highly dependant on it, 10 being rare or scarce.

See here: Buglife | Ragwort | Ragwort Fact File

[Dom Greves]

Jason - fascinating info on Ragwort (and I never thought I'd say that) - thanks!

[Jason Green]

My pleasure, Dom. I know these things can be weedy-looking, and I agree it's surprising so many invertebrates are reliant on it - but they are, so it should be a pleasure to have around. Keep an eye out and your camera ready - see what's there.

I think in public areas where this plant's prevalent some form of signage should be used to alert the public to it's major importance and prevent them thinking the meadow is 'infested' or not looked after as opposed to being there to support good insects locally.

[animartco]

Jason Green, does that Fact File tell you how many invertebrates actually EAT the plant? I know it is a great magnet for beetles especially, when in flower, but of all the species found taking the nectar, or using it for protection, how many are actually DEPENDANT on it? I cannot imagine that there is ANY rare species that could be dependant on it because it is such a common plant that no dependant species COULD be rare. Rare insects are usually dependant on Rare plants, and that is why they're rare.
So by encouraging the spread of a common weed which competes with and destroys other vegetation, you are actively making rare plants, and therefore rare insects even rarer.

[Jason Green]

What? I'll go into a longer response when I have more time. Still, what rare plants can Ragwort destroy?