The Wildlife of
Druridge Pools

 
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Moths - The Cinnabar Moth

First seen on Sunday 13th June 2021 at Druridge Pools

The Cinnabar Moth is named after the red mineral used as a pigment for painting. At first glance it is similar to the Six-spot Burnet Moth but they are not related. The Cinnabar Moth has much less red on its wings, and spends a lot of its time in the grass rather than on flowers, so is much more difficult to spot, being nearly all black when its wings are folded. However, it's a different story when the Cinnabar flies, as its hind wings (top and bottom) are all red so it appears to be a very red moth and stands out against the green grass. You can see the bright red wings in the second photo - they normally close their wings a split-second after landing, so you've got to be quick!