Milkweed tussock moth catsrpillars are having a field day on my milkweeds this year. Not a problem since I grow the milkweed for anyone who wants a meal and it'll force new growth that little monarch cats may prefer (if I get any; it's been a sparse couple of years for monarchs here in SW MO). I wish I could play with them, but I don't really want stinging and burning fingers for days.😬
(USDA zone 6b)
by Certain-Ad-4531
11 Comments
These guys always look so fake! Like moving pipe cleaners. So cool. 😆
Holy flapjacks that’s so many guys
If not friend, why friend shaped
Thought I stumbled into a macrame sub.
I love them!!! Last year they took over the little milkweed patch in my herb garden and my husband kept catching me checking on “my pets”
I had a bunch hatch on my one milkweed but I guess they got eaten before they got all big and fancy.
https://preview.redd.it/epr8vmheawaf1.png?width=1242&format=png&auto=webp&s=5123bcdaa6a3b3923c009ab676bf45ed04253eb9
I finally had a batch of them show up recently- First caterpillars of the season!
Tbh I love them and love observing them. They’re really entertaining to watch and see grow. I know others worry about how much they eat but I have an insane amount of milkweed so I couldn’t care less about that.
Such cool little dudes! Im glad you enjoy them too 💕
Happy /r/PoisonPorcupine
As if tussock moth caterpillars weren’t strapped enough already!
Is licking, touching?
They’re soooo pretty and the cool thing is usually the mostly try to just eat the bigger, older leaves at the bottom of milkweeds especially if it’s common milkweed. So if at times they just eat those and that satisfies them, that leaves the newer and tender leaves for the monarchs which favor those more!