Detailed information on Milkweed Tussock Moth (Euchaetes egle)

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FlyPoison

Rock Hill, SC (Zone 7a) | July 2015 | Positive

I recently discovered these unique cats on some common milkweed. I was more than generous letting them completely defoliate several individual plants. I have more than enough so I still have plenty left that still have foliage. I also got to witness a small wasp taking one out towards the end of their cycle. Hope they'll return next summer.

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Malus2006

Coon Rapids, MN (Zone 4a) | November 2009 | Positive

Those caterpillars are really interesting - they have such flashy colors as they munch on certain milkweed.

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NJTracyJean

Highland Lakes, NJ | September 2008 | Neutral

Actually, these guys don't take food from monarchs...if anything the other way around. MTM's eat mature milkweed while Monarchs prefer younger plants.

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sallyg

Anne Arundel,, MD (Zone 7b) | September 2007 | Neutral

I have bunches of these caterpillars almost every year. They will also eat Hemp Dogbane. I took milkweed to a Plant Swap today and ended up with one of these caterpillars in my shirt. It ended up leaving a patch of tiny itchy red bumps on me.

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DiOhio

Corning, OH (Zone 6a) | January 2007 | Neutral

Host Plant: Milkweeds.

The moth can sometimes be found on milkweed leaves during the day.

If the larva are disturbed they will usually drop to the ground, so look but don't touch. They have to spend a lot of time and energy to get back up on a leaf to eat.

A lot of people hate these caterpillars only because they feel they take food away from the Monarch butterfly. Please remember that there is a place for every species and these guys have to eat too. I actually look forward to seeing them because I think they're one of the cutest caterpillars out there. I also rear Monarchs, so I just plant extra milkweed so everyone has enough to eat.

Milkweed Tussock Moth

Euchaetesegle

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