Read on Twitter
My folks are making a little #wildflower area in their #Devon garden, so I went in search of seeds down for them. Came across some red campion capsules, perfectly ripe with plenty of dark, poppy like seeds in each. THREAD
Some of the capsules though, were empty. On closer inspection of one, I found the culprit still in residence. A campion #moth caterpillar, which with a very gentle squeeze I encouraged to crawl out.
These caterpillars feast on the seeds, living in the capsules until they outgrow them. They clear out the seeds, then crawl out at night to find a new one. Their colour matches the capsules perfectly, and their naturally curled shape make them a snug fit.
The flowers don't lose out totally though, as the adult moths provide a pollination service as they fly between the flowers, laying their eggs. I wonder how many other wonderfully balanced relationships like this are playing out down these shaded lanes.
