I have a few milkweed plants that have been absolutely taken over by these little black caterpillars. Thousands of them. Google thinks they could be yellow spotted tussock moth caterpillars. In SE Michigan. Any advice?
Just like monarchs, they feed exclusively on Asclepias spp. Nothing to do. Just let them eat.
ETA: These guys also feed on dogbane! Apocynum spp
mmmmyMonstera
I stg it’s the Year of the Tussock. My milkweed is being devoured every day! 😂 I have never seen so many at once and my other garden communities are reporting the same.
mawkx
I just saw these on my butterfly weed yesterday! I counted at least 13 of them. Super cool lil guys.
It cracks me up that a tussock moth cat decided it wasn’t enough to be incredibly stingy and itchy. They needed something to make themselves taste nasty, too.
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Milkweed tussock
They are a night flying pollinator. So cool!
Just like monarchs, they feed exclusively on Asclepias spp. Nothing to do. Just let them eat.
ETA: These guys also feed on dogbane! Apocynum spp
I stg it’s the Year of the Tussock. My milkweed is being devoured every day! 😂 I have never seen so many at once and my other garden communities are reporting the same.
I just saw these on my butterfly weed yesterday! I counted at least 13 of them. Super cool lil guys.
https://preview.redd.it/lmklf1tghagf1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4148f56147a1beb7b657569b14fd28932d6824c8
https://preview.redd.it/waqokvjohagf1.jpeg?width=4284&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c346876f0755c057644ec4390ede0fc85e8373f1
Hi! I’m also SE Michigan and I have a ton of these!! Happy to learn that I’m helping other native insects 😊. I read about them here-
[https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/milkweed_tussock_moth_larvae_feed_on_common_milkweed](https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/milkweed_tussock_moth_larvae_feed_on_common_milkweed)
It cracks me up that a tussock moth cat decided it wasn’t enough to be incredibly stingy and itchy. They needed something to make themselves taste nasty, too.