Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Firecrackers and Cinnabar Moths

I am so pleased with Lizzie Kate's "Pop".  I sewed on the bugle beeds yesterday and now the piece sparkles!

My take on the Tuesday Garden Party this week is a little different.  As gardeners many of us use organic methods of pest control.  I'm going to talk about the state of Oregon's successful Tansy Ragwort biological control program.

This is Tansy Ragwort, once considered to be western Oregon's most serious noxious weed.  If ingested by horses or cattle it causes irreversible, fatal liver damage.   In the 1970's animal losses topped $4,000,000.

After 20 years of biological controls, Tansy Ragwort is mostly a non-event.  See the 'very hungry caterpillars'?
 
They are the caterpillars of the Cinnabar Moth (Tyria jacobaeae) and they love to eat the plant.

I was going to pull up the few plants of Tansy I found, until I noticed the caterpillars.

I figured, why not let them do all the hard work.  

The plants certainly will not reproduce when the caterpillars are through!

I well remember the 'War on Tansy' of the 1970's.  I was in junior high school.  We called the Cinnabar Moths 'Kennedy Moths' as they 'wore' our school colors of red and black.

Speaking of red...  

Our Bread seed poppy must be about three different plants.

After showing light lavender and dark purple blooms, we've now been treated to bright red, fiercely ruffled blooms.
I hope your garden has treated you to a welcome surprise or two.

13 comments:

Carisa said...

Those poppies are just gorgeous! I'm glad nature took care of your weed problem.
Mrs. Petrie @ casapetrie.com

Ann at Beadlework. said...

Those are big caterpillars and I like the red and black moth, very striking.

The Inspired Stitcher said...

Great finish with the beads! I love those poppies. They are one of my favorite flowers. I've never seen a moth like that one. So pretty!

Beth said...

Those moths are stunning. So are your poppies. Hope you are having a good week!

Cath said...

Gorgeous pictures , the stitching ,the flowers and the moths. XXX

Mouse said...

hellooo just popping in for a cuppa :) love your wee sparkles and wow those caterpillars are hungry ..lol
gorgeous red colour of your poppies :)
hope you are all well :) love mouse xxxx

Barb said...

I love your little finish. That moth is beautiful.Guess nature has a plan.

Athena at Minervas Garden said...

Oh wow, Beth--the poppy is magnificent! We used to grow them in Eastern Washington, but I have a harder time getting them to grow here--maybe it's a little too warm in the winter or cool in the summer? And the Cinnabar Moth is gorgeous--I don't think I've ever seen one before--very cool!

Gabi said...

Congrats on finishing this cute little design.
Love as always your photo's. That moth is stunning.

Chris said...

I have never seen a moth like that. they are beautiful!

Melanie said...

I don't think I have ever seen a moth like around here. Very beautiful!!
The beads really do make that piece, don't they? Looks fab!!

Maggee said...

I love how Pop pops now, with the bugle beads!! Excellent! The bugs give me the creeps, but they are striking as caterpillars and moths! Hugs!

trillium said...

So, is there still a problem with the tansy ragwort & livestock, or were livestock owners able to eradicate it on their lands?