Milkweed Tussock Moth caterpillars, also known as the milkweed tiger moth caterpillar, are a native species that uses the poisonous sap of milkweed plants as a defense mechanism, similar to monarch caterpillars. They can eat some milkweed plants but are not causing actual harm and can be removed by hand if necessary. It takes four generations of caterpillars to butterfly to milkweed beetles, which feed on various species of longhorn beetles (Cerambycidae).
The milkweed tussock moth caterpillar is a colorful insect that feeds on milkweed plants and emits ultrasonic sounds. It has both positive and negative effects on the ecosystem, and it is important to plant milkweed to prevent infestations and attract natural predators. To encourage the milkweed tussock moth, people should plant milkweed to attract them and plant milkweed to attract them.
A group of milkweed tussock caterpillars can quickly consume entire milkweed plants except for the stem. The caterpillars usually eat all milkweed plants. To prevent infestations, people should plant milkweed to attract these caterpillars and plant milkweed to attract them.
Euchaetes egle, another caterpillar that specializes in milkweeds and dogbanes, feeds primarily on leaf tissue and avoids veins due to their higher concentration of the poisonous sap. By planting milkweed, people can help protect and coexist with the milkweed tussock moth caterpillar, which is a valuable addition to the ecosystem.
| Article | Description | Site |
|---|---|---|
| What are the hairy caterpillars eating my milkweed? Are they … | A group of milkweed tussock caterpillars can rather quickly consume entire milkweed plants except for the stem. The caterpillars usually eat all … | extension.unh.edu |
| Meet the Milkweed Tussock Moth and Caterpillar | Milkweed tussock moth caterpillars are some of the most interesting caterpillars you can find in the garden—just plant milkweed to attract them … | birdsandblooms.com |
| The Wrong Caterpillar on My Milkweeds | If you see caterpillars on milkweed plants, they’re not always monarch butterfly caterpillars. They be milkweed tussock moth larvae. | laidbackgardener.blog |
📹 Caterpillar Competition? – Milkweed Moth – AskMDC
CATERPILLAR COMPETITION? – Does the monarch butterfly caterpillar have competition when eating milkweed? AskMDC …
Do Monarch Caterpillars Eat Milkweed Tussock Moths?
Monarch caterpillars are often misunderstood; they're harmless and prefer younger milkweed plants for food. In contrast, milkweed tussock moth caterpillars appear between July and August, consuming the older plants left by the pickier monarchs. While they may defoliate milkweed stands in a short time, they pose no direct threat to monarch eggs or caterpillars, as they primarily feed on milkweed. Despite their voracious appetite, milkweed tussock moth caterpillars do not consume enough to jeopardize the plant's survival.
Both caterpillar species rely on milkweed, but their feeding habits differ. Late instar tussock moth caterpillars exhibit toxic characteristics similar to monarch caterpillars due to their shared diet of cardiac glycoside-rich milkweed sap. Female milkweed tussock moths lay eggs on the undersides of milkweed leaves in June, leading to the hatching larvae that munch on the leaves. Although tussock moth caterpillars may consume plants more rapidly than monarchs, they don't cause significant harm.
Encouraging milkweed growth can support both caterpillar types, as they coexist and fulfill their ecological roles without severely impacting each other's food sources. Overall, these caterpillars each contribute uniquely to the ecosystem, relying on milkweed for sustenance.
Is It OK To Pick Up Monarch Caterpillars?
Handling monarch caterpillars requires caution due to their delicate nature, particularly at the young stages of development. Direct handling should be minimized for the safety and well-being of both the caterpillars and the handler. While they are small and sensitive, it's essential to remember that these creatures can secrete toxins, which may pose a risk. However, under specific conditions, relocation or educational interactions can be permissible.
For instance, it’s advised to allow caterpillars to crawl onto your hand instead of picking them up directly. This method reduces stress for the caterpillar and minimizes any potential harm. Nurturing them involves providing the right habitat and diet, with an emphasis on milkweed, their primary food source.
Capturing eggs or young caterpillars found on milkweed for raising is generally viewed as acceptable, provided they are released promptly after maturation. When moving caterpillars, doing so with care ensures their safety; using gentle methods like transferring the leaf they occupy to a new location can be effective.
While handling adult caterpillars can be fine if done gently, it’s important to recognize that they can experience stress when picked up. When transferring them, one should use fingers to gently lift without causing harm. Overall, learning about and observing these fascinating creatures can be an enriching experience, offering insights into their lifecycle, though ethical considerations in conservation practices are worth noting. Instead of rearing, promoting conservation initiatives that support their natural habitats might yield better results for monarch populations.
Can You Touch Milkweed Tussock Moth?
Milkweed tussock moth caterpillars, while appearing soft and appealing, should not be touched due to their irritating hairs, which can cause skin rashes. They are a native species and play a role in the ecosystem, particularly benefiting both them and monarch butterflies by feeding on milkweed and sequestering its toxic cardiac glycosides. These hairy, brightly colored caterpillars are prominent in Maine this year, raising the question of their ecological impact, which is multifaceted.
For those trying to protect monarchs in their gardens, a practical solution would be to collect and relocate tussock moth caterpillars to another area. Unlike milkweed longhorned beetles or milkweed bugs, tussock moth caterpillars and milkweed leaf beetle larvae can significantly consume milkweed foliage, impacting the availability for monarch caterpillars.
While it is possible for people to handle these caterpillars, it is advisable to wear gloves due to the likelihood of skin irritation. Most people do not experience adverse effects, but some may develop rashes, especially if the caterpillars are handled roughly. It is best to discourage children from touching or playing with them. If coexistence proves difficult, you might consider removing the milkweed tussock moth larvae from your garden. Overall, a cautious "live and let live" approach is recommended.
Are Tussock Moths Destructive?
The Douglas-fir tussock moth is a significant pest known for its ability to cause extensive defoliation and mortality in true fir and Douglas-fir trees. By severely defoliating trees of all sizes, the moth creates snags and down wood, weakening the trees and making them more susceptible to other disturbances, such as bark beetle infestations, which further contribute to tree death. The tussock moth is a common insect that poses a threat to both forested and ornamental landscapes, making it crucial to understand its life cycle, physical characteristics, identification, and control measures to protect environmental and economic resources.
Among the numerous species of tussock moths in the United States, the gypsy moth is notably the most destructive. While not widely recognized as a direct medical threat to humans, the caterpillars possess venomous spines that can cause painful stings and potential allergic reactions upon contact. Therefore, it is important to remove these caterpillars from yards and gardens to prevent damage and health risks.
Signs of a tussock moth infestation include significant defoliation, where caterpillars voraciously consume foliage, leading to browning of leaves and weakened trees. Additionally, larvae may damage young fruit by taking small bites, causing discoloration and rough skin on the fruit.
The Douglas-fir tussock moth is a solitary defoliator that can experience localized outbreaks, particularly in urban areas both on the coast and inland. High larval populations can lead to severe defoliation, affecting a variety of ornamental and forest trees, including conifers, oak, ash, poplar, and fruit trees. Effective management strategies include the use of biological controls such as Bacillus thuringiensis, as well as natural predators and parasitoids that help keep moth populations in check.
Early detection is essential to mitigate potential damage, as sustained defoliation over several years can kill affected trees. While tussock moths are generally not harmful to humans beyond the immediate pain and irritation from caterpillar stings, their ability to strip trees of foliage can have long-term negative impacts on both natural forests and cultivated landscapes. Implementing timely and effective control measures is vital to limit the destructive effects of these pervasive pests.
What Does A Tiger Caterpillar Look Like?
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail caterpillars are captivating creatures characterized by their green coloration and prominent yellow and black decoy eyespots. When threatened, they can extend orange "horns" known as osmeteria for defense. These caterpillars undergo a fascinating metamorphosis, starting as small brown forms and evolving into bright green variants with distinct bulbous heads adorned with false eyes that mimic the eyes of larger animals, effectively deterring predators.
The Eastern Tiger Swallowtail itself is a unique butterfly species, recognizable by the males’ striking yellow wings with black stripes, while females may exhibit different color variations. These butterflies are known for their agility in flight, often seen gliding gracefully.
The Canadian Tiger Swallowtail caterpillar, during its early stages, cleverly resembles bird droppings for camouflage, before transitioning into a vibrant green hue with yellow markings. Similarly, the Western Tiger Swallowtail caterpillar features a striking coloration, beginning life as a translucent green.
Woolly bear caterpillars, belonging to tiger moths, have a distinct appearance with their dense black and ginger hairs, and also serve as a fascinating parallel to the swallowtail caterpillars, emphasizing the diversity within this group.
Overall, these caterpillars not only showcase remarkable adaptations for survival but also illustrate the beauty found in the lifecycle of butterflies, making these creatures a delightful addition to gardens in the eastern United States.
What Does A Milkweed Tussock Moth Caterpillar Look Like?
The milkweed tussock moth caterpillar, Euchaetes egle, exhibits bright and contrasting colors, signaling its accumulation of toxic cardiac glycosides from its exclusive diet of milkweed and dogbane. Initially, the young caterpillars are gray and hairy, but they soon transition into yellow tubes with black heads. As they reach the late instar stage, their appearance becomes more striking, festooned with tufts of black, orange, and white hairs, earning them the alternate name "milkweed tiger moth." These caterpillars, found munching on milkweed plants in late summer, resemble monarch butterfly larvae at first glance. However, closer observation reveals their unique features, as they typically show up in groups, consuming the plants left behind by pickier monarchs.
Milkweed tussock moth caterpillars reach about 3. 5 cm and transition through several growth stages (instars). The early instar caterpillars are notable for their hairy and colorful appearance, which contrasts with the adult moth, a nondescript brown creature. The caterpillars can be identified by small black dots on their light gray bodies, which evolve into distinct black markings as they mature. Their eye-catching appearance plays an important role in ensuring they are recognized, especially since they can impact local ecosystems by feeding on milkweed.
What Does The Milkweed Tiger Caterpillar Turn Into?
The milkweed tussock moth, also known as the milkweed tiger moth, is a native species whose larvae exhibit striking black, white, and orange colors. Upon maturation, these caterpillars transition into less vibrant adults characterized primarily by a soft gray hue. Understanding how to differentiate milkweed tussock moth caterpillars from monarch caterpillars is essential, as both species rely on milkweed and have developed mechanisms to tolerate its toxins, specifically cardiac glycosides, which they retain into adulthood.
The milkweed tussock moth, scientifically named Euchaetes egle, feeds on milkweeds and dogbanes and is often seen between July and August, consuming the remaining plants left by the more selective monarchs.
These fuzzy caterpillars possess thick hairs adorned with tufts of black, orange, and white, serving as a warning to potential predators about their toxicity. They typically feed in clusters, leading to substantial competition with monarchs for available resources. By forming cocoons, the larvae undergo pupation to emerge as adult moths. Their existence as effective pollinators highlights the ecological importance of the milkweed tussock moth.
To encourage coexistence with these caterpillars, it's advisable to identify and protect their host plants. Understanding their life cycle—from eggs to caterpillars to adults—can foster a more harmonious relationship with this native insect, ultimately promoting biodiversity in ecosystems reliant on milkweed. The milkweed tussock moth's vibrant larvae and their chemical defenses make them a unique and valuable species within their habitats.
Should I Leave Monarch Caterpillars On Milkweed?
Once larvae emerge, fresh milkweed leaves are essential, as they only consume milkweed and several species of it. If the original plant is still fresh, keeping the larvae on it for a few days is easiest. Common molting spots include under milkweed leaves, cage walls, floral tubes, and container rims, where they may remain for 24-48 hours before returning to fresh milkweed. The milkweed tussock moth, a typical species found across Eastern North America from Mexico to Canada, features an orange and black abdomen, signaling its toxicity to predators.
To care for monarch caterpillars, provide fresh milkweed daily in an enclosure. In cases of infection, it's important to remove affected caterpillars. Collecting caterpillars on milkweed leaves for indoor rearing offers added protection, but many believe it's better to leave them undisturbed. As eggs hatch, cut the leaves and place the caterpillars on new milkweed. Safety is crucial, as milkweed treated with pesticides can harm the caterpillars.
For attracting monarch butterflies, planting milkweed in gardens is vital since it serves as their nectar source and is the exclusive host plant for monarch caterpillars. Despite an army of milkweed tussock moth caterpillars on milkweed crops intended for monarchs, they can coexist, given that milkweed is the single food source for monarch caterpillars, which primarily feed on healthy, blemish-free leaves.
Is The Milkweed Tussock Moth Good Or Bad?
Although milkweed tussock moth caterpillars consume plants more rapidly than monarch caterpillars, they do not inflict harm. These native caterpillars belong to the ecosystem alongside monarch butterflies, both species feeding on milkweed. The milkweed tussock moth is common throughout Eastern North America and features striking orange, black, and yellow patterns, which serve to warn predators of their toxicity. Although they fiercely compete for milkweed, they should not be seen as harmful since they are part of the natural habitat.
Experts note that the milkweed tussock moth caterpillar, with its tufts of black, white, and orange hairs, is particularly captivating during its larval stage. It tends to feed on older milkweed plants left by the selective monarch caterpillars, which favor younger foliage.
Forming colonies, these caterpillars can cause noticeable damage to the plants, but are essential food sources for various predators. While they may appear cute, their hairy texture can cause skin irritation; therefore, caution is advised when handling them. Importantly, the milkweed tussock moth, like the monarch, is entitled to its share of milkweed resources. They are not endangered and are an integral part of the ecosystem. Therefore, it is crucial to recognize their role and the balance they maintain.
As such, the coexistence of both caterpillar species should be encouraged, as their survival depends on the availability of milkweed, which they both play a part in utilizing without causing detrimental effects to the plants.
Does Milkweed Grow Back After Caterpillars Eat It?
To assist monarch butterflies, gently pick up caterpillars and relocate them to another milkweed plant. If caterpillars are clinging to a stem, snip the stem and move it together with the caterpillar. Established milkweed plants, especially perennials, will recover quickly once their leaves are consumed, with new growth starting from the base. It’s advisable to set aside some milkweed to promote its regrowth and switch them out as needed; keeping some indoors can prevent additional caterpillar infestations.
According to experts, the milkweed plant regenerates efficiently after being eaten, but it requires patience. Milkweed tussock moths, present across Eastern North America, are also dependent on this plant. Monarch caterpillars feed on milkweed, which plays a critical role in their life cycle. While a single milkweed plant typically supports one monarch caterpillar, multiple eggs may be laid on a single plant, necessitating additional stems for nourishment.
After raising caterpillars, it's important to sanitize your containers to prevent disease. Milkweed is a perennial, coming back year after year, with flowering occurring in the second or third year, leading to pod development. Caterpillars that consume all the leaves won't kill the plant; it will regenerate, producing new shoots within weeks under good conditions.
Though the caterpillar's survival rate in the wild is low, as long as they have ample milkweed, they tend to stay localized rather than roaming. Milkweed supports not just monarchs but also various insects, benefiting a broad range of pollinators.
What Caterpillar Eats Milkweed?
El hospedador principal de la mariposa Monarca es el algodoncillo, el cual actúa como defensa para las orugas, ya que es tóxico para la mayoría de los animales. Esto hace que estas larvas, que son voraces, se mantengan lejos de los depredadores. Otra oruga interesante es la oruga de la polilla de los algodoncillos, conocida también como la oruga de la polilla tigre del algodoncillo, que se encuentra en toda América del Norte.
Estas orugas, cubiertas de pelos densos y con bandas rojizas, se alimentan de las plantas de algodoncillo, especialmente en julio y agosto, cuando ingieren los restos que dejan las exigentes orugas de la Monarca.
Durante su desarrollo, se benefician de los compuestos tóxicos llamados cardenolidos presentes en el algodoncillo, que a su vez los protegen de ser depredados. Aunque muchas orugas asociadas al algodoncillo presentan patrones vívidos de naranja y negro, las orugas de las Monarca son las más conocidas por alimentarse exclusivamente de plantas del género Asclepias. Además, se pueden observar otros tipos de orugas, como las de la mariposa cola de golondrina del Este, que consumen plantas diferentes como eneldo. En resumen, el algodoncillo es vital para la supervivencia de las mariposas Monarca, ya que sus orugas dependen completamente de estas plantas para su desarrollo y defensa contra depredadores.
📹 Raising Monarchs – Who Speaks For The Tussock Moth?
In the efforts of planting milkweed, we aim to help restore the lost habitat of the Monarch Butterfly. However, is that the only animal …
I have had them eat almost all my milkweed while trying to get the butterfly garden established. Since then I have had some every year but this summer. I will let them stay because they are so cool looking. We used to have a bat nursery colony in a building next to my house. I watched them for 14 years. Then the building was sold and the new owner closed all the exits except for 1 and then waited to close that one on a hot day. By the time I could convince someone to go open it they were dead. All of them. I had counted close to 100 several nights before. We offered to help him exclude them from the building and even build and hung a bat house 16 free up just over the property line but the jerk killed the colony. Sometimes I hate people. Now my village is spraying for mosquitoes again.
In Vermont for the weekend, I found one small lone Tussock Caterpillar clinging to a single milkweed pod, in a meadow where all the milkweed had been reduced to stalks only, not a leaf in sight, after lots of cold nights. In another area, I found one milkweed plant still alive, went back and retrieved the little cat, transferred it to the milkweed and hoped he might revive with a little food. The next day I checked and he was busily eating away and enjoying the warmth of the sun. With a hard frost forecast for the night, I took him in with the milkweed and have been enjoying perusal him. He really is a cool little critter. Tomorrow I’ll transfer him back to Massachusetts where there has not been a hard frost yet and I still have milkweed growing. He’s doubled in size and hopefully he’ll build his cocoon and over-winter safely. Loved learning about Tussock Moths from your article! Also found one very dark monarch chrysalis hanging from a mint stalk, brought it in, and a half hour later in the warmth, he emerged. Have fed him yesterday and today and will release him in MA tomorrow. Only knew how to feed him from your excellent article on feeding monarch butterflies! Thanks for educating us all!
I currently have about 30 monarch caterpillars and a couple of weeks ago I was out collecting milkweed and came upon a bunch of these Tussock Moths…they were all on one lonely milkweed plant. I knew that food source would not be enough for all of them so I collected them very carefully and brought them to a patch were they could thrive. Yesterday I went to get more milkweed and checked on them and they were huge! I think they are soooo cool…most of the milkweed was gone there so I decided to take 3 of them home and watch them transform. I can’t wait to see them change! Thanks for the article! There are lots about Monarchs but not so much on the Tussock Moth. SO it was much appreciated! 🙂
If I see them, I will give them room on my milkweed patch. Bats need all the help we can give them. I have seen so many pollinators since I started reserving some milkweed. Hummingbird moths, bumble bees, even saw honeybees for the first time in years in my neighborhood. Would love to see the bats return as well.
Thank you Dr. Lund. I’ll consider trying to be kinder to those Tussock moth caterpillars. I think it helps to have lots of milkweed in a garden. The first year I grew milkweed, I only had 6 plants, and was horrified one day to see three of them disappearing in one morning as the Tussock month caterpillars spread over the plants–so I destroyed those cats. Now that I have plenty of milkweed, I won’t worry so much. One thing I’ve observed is that the milkweed plants under attack recover quickly once those caterpillars move on.
I join you in enjoying theses guys. I’ve planted milkweed and protected it and anything living on it for years. But just found out from you what these are. Thank you much. In perusal things develop in my 2 big patches of milkweed, I noticed something cool. I live in Conowingo Md. We have both Baltimore and Orchard Orioles on out property and they use dried stems from milkweed to strengthen their nests.
Rich, I just found a Tussock moth on some milk weed they are a beautiful catterpillar my Monarchs are in their crysalis waiting to become butterflies so I brought this beauty in and am going to raise it. I love all creatures and am happy to give this one a chance your article was very informative and hope I get to hear the clicks I have raised monarchs for about 7 years this is my first Tussock I had never seen one before. Your perspective on who eats mikweed does make you think and seems to me they might be in jepordy too.
Love them!! I wondered how you had such a pile of them, I’ve always left them alone out in nature too, but when they cross my path or end up in my turf I feel obligated to assist them 🙂 As much as the butterfly fascinated me and I’ve enjoyed the time I had with the monarch I assisted moths have been a bit more interesting…thank you for the information regarding the tussuck moth. It’s always good to take note of those animals that don’t elicit the same fervor and sympathy that the “fancy” ones do. Everyone loves monarchs, who loves moths? Well, I do! Hah, you’re just bringing this up with the panda analogy 😆
I 110% agree. Moths (while not necessarily as beautiful as butterflies) are important night pollinators so why not give them a helping hand. While I haven’t seen any on my milkweed yet I like the idea of challenging myself to rear other insects in my garden. Would you be willing to make a article on how you reared the Tussock moths? Thanks from Houston TX 😛
Good article! It’s sad how tussock moth caterpillars are often considered milkweed pests for eating milkweed but the monarch butterflies are not. Like you said, the other caterpillars deserve to have their meal too. They may not migrate, they may not be as big and colorful as a monarch butterfly, but they are unique in their own way and are still beautiful. Moths are underrated and amazing despite reputation as being pests. Look at the moths’ little faces! They are cute little guys. They may not be monarchs, but they are still important.
I really enjoy your articles and I am glad you did this one. I am experiencing the rath of tussock moths at the moment, it isn’t very fun seeing my milkweed plants dwindle away after spending so much time on making gardens specifically for monarchs. I am curious as to what other surprises I will encounter while doing this… Thanks for the great articles!
I really enjoyed this article, I always liked these guys because they move fast like they had too much coffee, I remember seeing them as a kid and not knowing what they were. Tho I haven’t seen many around recently, I’ve only found the one, and on the same plants I’ve found it on I’ve found more then twenty eggs of monarchs. Also do you have any more monarchs? I released my last monarch of the year a week ago. Also just wondering. I’m pretty sure you have woolly bear caterpillars, have you ever raised one?
Excellent article. I was never aware of these moths until they were mentioned on Jerry Coyne’s site this morning. Absolutely awesome that the late larval stage mimics the black and orange pattern of the adult monarch. I’d love to help both these moths and the monarchs by planting milkweed, but I live in a densely forested part of East Texas where milkweed does not do well. They are digging out a canal down the street to widen it and put in a couple of retention cofferdams. They’ve cut down a lot of forest, and thankfully salvaged logged most of the loblolly pines so that other trees will not be cut. Maybe I could plant milkweed in the disturbed ground near the canal to help out? And how does milkweed spread anyway? Is there a bird that can eat its pods and poop the seeds out elsewhere?
Just spotted the first Tussock Moth Caterpillar in my front yard milkweeds. I left all the insects alone and I had an adult Monarch butterfly(ies) everyday. So many interesting insects came by Great Golden Digger Wasps, Clearwing Moths, Texas Leafcutter bees and ebony damselflies were some of the most notable.
I raised a batch of those once about 3 or 4 years ago wanted Monarchs so bad and even though they were in a big clutch I think a heptagon shape something like that, I thought why not raise what ever they were and they were Tussock moths. But mine took for ever to mature and was late summer when they started making cocoons I kept back just a few and released the other cats before they went into cocoons, I tried to keep them over winter but they dried up the few I kept back. But anyway after that I observed a few more batches of eggs the next few years in my milk weeds and seems they only stayed together a short time then they scattered to other plants so I would just see one now and then they didnt stay with the one plant only a short time after hatching.
My first year rearing Monarchs, I thought I hit the motherload of eggs my first search. Nope. Milkweed tussock moths.😅 Still had a lot of fun keeping an eye on them after I put them back out because they have amazing texture and look so funky with their colors too. (And they are cute and fuzzy!) Took some great photos of them that year.
We finally got a chance to watch this one! Our tussock crew has finally gotten to the devouring stage. I was thinking of helping them get a little bigger and then dispersing them around various milkweed plants so they can finish up growing in the wild. I just don’t have a good container to put them in for cocoon phase and we would like to find some more monarchs (have had 3 emerge and 2 in chrysalides right now). It’s been interesting to observe their habits and how they differ from monarch caterpillars.
Thought I’d post this on your latest article hoping you might see it fairly soon and be able give me your advice. I brought in a seemingly quite late caterpillar which is probably 2 or 3 days from emerging from its chrysalis. Living in rural upstate New York the weather now and for next week is predicted to be rainy and in the low 50’s during the day and much colder at night. I have a greenhouse full of houseplants which I heat with heat lamps all winter. Do I release the Monarch outside after a day or so or let it go in my greenhouse with some flowering plants and puddling/feeding set up??? Which would be more beneficial to a recently emerged Monarch…I not comfortable tampering with nature in this way…I almost wish I hadn’t even seen this caterpillar. Thanks for your thoughts and expertise on this matter!
Found some milkweed tussock moth larva this year and I wholeheartedly agree with being a good steward to them as well. I’ve been rearing a colony and getting to the point where I think they want to cocoon. Any tips for creating an environment that will facilitate a healthy cocoom process? I think you have some leaf mulch in your enclosure, is that correct?
The endangered Karner blue butterfly used to have a population near where I now live. Then the heat wave in 2012 wiped out all the lupine in the area. Karner blues need lupine like monarchs need milkweed. Just like that, Karner blues are considered extirpated from my state. But I’ve seen lupine again. A good sized stand last year in one protected natural area, a few plants earlier this year in another small nature preserve near my house. So I’m trying to grow lupine. I have a few plants that survived into a second year but didn’t flower. They don’t like the spot I gave them. So I’m ordering more seeds and will try another couple of spots in my yard. Karner blues don’t migrate, they don’t travel far at all. Do I think a butterfly no longer present in my state will suddenly show up in my yard next year? No. But I think, if I can get a healthy stand of seed-bearing lupine (which is gorgeous btw) and maybe share those seeds with other neighbors and conservation-minded gardeners, and MORE people grow lupine, then MAYBE if Karner blues are reintroduced anywhere nearby, maybe eventually there will be a chain of suitable food habitat for their caterpillars – maybe a decade from now even – and how cool would that be? I’ve never seen a karner blue butterfly. They are a small skipper type, not particularly striking. But it’s easy to start to care about an endangered species if you just learn a little more about it.
I actually found these guys in a park by my house and knew what they were, because of previously perusal this article. And I was really sad when I saw that they started to die off. I realized that some of their frass was red and that after they died there were small maggots and flies around the caterpillar, and as a result I only have a few in cocoons. I was really sad about this and I’m wondering if you experienced anything like this with your tussock moths, and if you know what this parasite might be. Thanks a lot! Keep posting these amazing articles, wether about monarchs or other insects!
Just to let you know, tussock moths have a huge range; from Florida to Quebec. In Florida, they lay their eggs on desert roses (also poisonous) but not on tropical milkweed. Mind you in Florida the monarch’s not only are indigenous but voracious so surviving on milkweed might not be in the moth’s best interest!
So, do these little guys over winter in their cocoons? That’s what I’m seeing on the MSU extension site and if so i need to let ours go. I currently have 6, as we let all the others go so we didn’t have to keep up with leaf collection. One has lost most of its hairs but when I cleaned out the bottom of the cage it was kind of stuck to some poop so I cleaned it off. I’m thinking it was trying to make its cocoon and didn’t mean to get stuck there. Are they going to emerge this season or next year?
I found these on milkweed in my garden this year. I left them alone. My son’s favourite colour is orange, so I was excited to see what they were going to become. Sadly we had a really bad storm go through and a lot of my milkweed blew over. Most of it recovered, but the moth caterpillars were gone after that. 🙁
It’s cool! I have question about monarch chrysalis, as I have to go out town for this weekend and some of chrysalis are going to eclosed so is there any safe way to take chrysalis outside to let the butterfly fly out after they eclosed I just worry about predators but I think I just can’t let them in the cage inside the house until I come back home though. Thanks!
Being new to raising monarchs, I accidentally gathered a handful of these guys. I’ve been feeding them in a separate container (for about 1 week), but I have no idea what they need to become a moth. Can I just put them back in the garden? Or is it better for me to keep them and try to get them to adulthood in my nursery? I don’t want them to die.
I raised a bunch (over 50) until they were about an inch long and let all but 4 back into the milkweed patch. The 4 I kept have made their cacoons. Do they eclose this summer? Everything I’ve read says they overwinter, but it seems to me there’s enough time for them to eclose, mate and lay more eggs. How long were yours in the cacoon?
Confused about the message until the end. We work to save monarchs because they are pollinators, right? Tussock moths are just along for the ride, so let them be? IF they are voracious towards milkweed do we make choices about who needs that plant more? Thanks for the article, but not sure it is impactful with regard to what we need to do to preserve and protect pollinators.
I hate these tussock moths not the moth itself, but when they are a caterpillar. when they are in the latest instar stage, when they look like a punk rocker. Do not touch them when they are a caterpillar i had a really bad rash, it was very itchy, had it for a few days. We actually had them on our Sumac.
Umm, does anyone want to come take the tussuk moths from my backyard? 😅 I am allergic to the hairs and they really really hurt! Why isn’t anyone talking about how bad they can hurt?? So confused. I’m team Monarch for a reason, they won’t hurt you! This is very cool website but whyyyyy these demon animals?!