Return of the Police Car Moth (Wannabes)

 For those who remember last July's post on Fireweed that, among other pollinators, featured the Police Car Moth (Gnophaela vermiculata), I can now say that those flashing black & whites were doing more than just helping Fireweed to have a good time, but also indulging in some procreating of their own. The caterpillars already are fairly large and munch, munch, munching away on the Forget-Me-Nots (Myosotis sylvatica). 

 Forget-Me-Nots thrive in the HBG (they have naturalized in the yard), but the Siberian Bluebells (Mertensia sibirica) are only expanding gradually. Unfortunately more caterpillars have been showing up on the bluebells. So, we have been indulging in a bit of natural selection for host plant preference. 

 So far, no sign that the dear (if ephemeral) Siberian Bugloss (Brunnera macrophylla 'Jack Frost') or inexpensive but persistently attractive Bethlehem Sage (Pulmonaria saccharata ‘Roy Davidson’) have stimulated the caterpillars' tastebuds. But who knows, maybe the mother moths made the choices.