What kind of caterpillar on Milkweed - Ask Extension
I thought that only Monarch Butterfly larvae ate Milkweed, but these don't look like Monarch larvae, to me, at least at this stage of the game, anyway...
Knowledgebase
What kind of caterpillar on Milkweed #263819
Asked July 21, 2015, 6:33 PM EDT
I thought that only Monarch Butterfly larvae ate Milkweed, but these don't look like Monarch larvae, to me, at least at this stage of the game, anyway. They just now appeared; or I just noticed them, this afternoon. And they are devouring the Milkweed rapidly. Lots of them are eating voraciously.
I have seen a couple of Monarchs flitting around in the area in the last couple of weeks and was hoping for a good crop of them. This is in the front yard, near the garage, where there are maybe a dozen Milkweed.
Rice County Minnesota
Expert Response
These are Milkweed Tussock moths:
http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species/Euchaetes-egle
http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species/Euchaetes-egle
Thank you for your promptness, here. So, are they "beneficial" or "harmful"? Should I leave them alone, or should I do something to reduce their population, as in kill these? I don't know anything about them or their niche, and don't want to allow any disappointment I have in their not being subjectively beautiful Monarchs, but rather subjectively ugly moths, to dictate an improper course of action on my part toward/against them.
Well, they are voracious feeders on milkweed plants, and because they are gregarious they can cause lots of damage rather quickly. The gregarious stage doesn't last long, and you may find that most of them have disappeared by now.
If you wish to control them, it's probably a little too late this year for chemicals. In fact, the best, and most environmentally friendly way to control these critters is by hand-picking them, and dispatching them in a bucket with soapy water. Otherwise, most insecticides that include "moth", or "moth caterpillars" on the label should work next year.
If you wish to control them, it's probably a little too late this year for chemicals. In fact, the best, and most environmentally friendly way to control these critters is by hand-picking them, and dispatching them in a bucket with soapy water. Otherwise, most insecticides that include "moth", or "moth caterpillars" on the label should work next year.
No problem, and thank you. My real question is whether or not to leave them alone. You have answered that. I will dispose of them by hand, because they ARE very "gregarious" and concentrated in their location(s). They have demolished the leaves you saw them on and have moved on to other leaves. I'll just pick those leaves, taking the caterpillars with them, and throwing them in the boiler. Too easy. They are NOT on ALL Milkweed plants, just concentrated on a few.
I keep hoping that some Monarch Caterpillars show up and want to have some food for them.
Thanks, again.
