>The cinnabar larvae does like another plant as well as tansey ragwort - I
>have often observed it feeding on Groundsel, either Senecio vulgaris or
>Senecio spp.
>
>Marie Churney
>Pacific Lutheran University
>Tacoma WA

As tansy ragwort is Senecio jacobaeus, this isn't surprising. I would
think that the biggest problem with biological control species is that they
often (always?) pose a threat to species congeneric with the target
organism. Although Lepidoptera (moths, butterflies) larvae are relatively
host-specific, they often occur on several related species of the same
genus or even other genera. Look up host-plant lists in any good butterfly
book.

Dennis Paulson, Director phone 206-756-3798
Slater Museum of Natural History fax 206-756-3352
University of Puget Sound e-mail dpaulson at ups.edu
Tacoma, WA 98416
web site: http://www.ups.edu/biology/museum/museum.html