Senecio Vulgaris - Predators

Predators

The seed of Common groundsel is a good green food for Canaries and Finches and it is available all year round.

Senecio vulgaris seed has been found in the droppings of sparrows, and seedlings have been raised from the excreta of various birds. Seed has also been found in cow manure.

Some Lepidoptera species eat many of the Senecio genus; additional studies via electrophysiological recordings have shown that the taste sensilla of the Cinnabar moth larvae respond (get excited) specifically to the pyrrolizidine alkaloids, which all Senecio are known to contain.

Moths and caterpillars

• Cinnabar moth (Tyria jacobaeae)
• Flame Shoulder (Ochropleura plecta)
• Ragwort plume moth (Platyptilia isodactyla)

The Senecio genus also are host to other insects:

Beetles

• Ragwort flea beetle (Longitarsus jacobaeae)
• Longitarsus gracilis (family Coleoptera species Chrysomelidae)

Flies

Seed flies (Diptera: Muscoidea)

• Ragwort seed fly (Anthomyiidae, Botanophila seneciella)

Gall flies (Diptera: Tephritidae):

• Ensina sonchi
• Sphenella marginata
• Trupanea stellata
• Trypeta zoe

and other insects that are not listed here.

The ragwort flea beetle and ragwort seed fly have been approved and released for Senecio control in California, Australia and elsewhere.

Fungus Most Senecio, including S. squalidus are susceptible to rust and other fungus and mildews:

Rust fungus Uredinales

• Coleosporium tussilaginis - stems and leaves (Coleosporiaceae)
• Puccinia lagenophorae - leaves only (Pucciniaceae)
• Bremia lactucae

White rust Peronosporales

• Albugo tragopogonis - (Albuginaceae)
• some of the species Peronosporaceae - (Albuginaceae)

Sac fungus Ascochyta, Pezizomycetes

• Ascochyta senecionicola - (Coelomycete)

Groundsel Mildew Erysiphales

• Golovinomyces cichoracearum var. fischeri

Powdery Mildew Erysiphales

• Podosphaera fusca - (Erysiphaceae)

Black root rot Microascales

• some of the family Incertae sedis

and other fungus that are not listed here.