Native Plants
Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?
A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.
Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
rate this answer
Saturday - January 23, 2016
From: Winchendon, MA
Region: Northeast
Topic: Pests, Herbs/Forbs, Wildflowers
Title: Caterpillars on Milkweed in MA
Answered by: Anne Van Nest
QUESTION:
I have found every year a black/red caterpillars on my milkweed. They eat everything! I have never been able to find out what they are or how to get rid of them.ANSWER:
The milkweed tussock caterpillar (Euchaetes egle) is a common summertime feeder on milkweeds (Asclepias spp.) and dogbane (Apocynum spp.) in a huge area from southern Canada to Texas. Wikipedia says that the older caterpillars are gregarious and sport tufts of black, white and orange hairs with a black head. This coloration mimics the monarch butterfly caterpillar in a hope to ward off predators. The adult butterfly is a gray and yellow with rows of black dots on the dorsum.
Willow House Chronicles has a blog post about your caterpillar. Barefootheart says: The Tussock moth label is a misnomer, as these moths are classified with tiger moths. Another tiger moth caterpillar that you are probably familiar with is the Woolly Bear.
Some people have an allergic reaction, developing a rash, after handling these caterpillars, so it is not a good idea to pick them up, no matter how cute and fuzzy them may look.
Female moths lay large batches of eggs, and while the caterpillars are tiny, they live together on one plant before dispersing. Monarch butterflies are well know to also use milkweed as their larval food source, but Wagner notes that Monarchs tend to prefer young shoots, while Tussocks are content to eat older foliage. The caterpillar will overwinter in a cocoon and emerge as a moth next year.
These caterpillars will most likely be an annual visitor to your milkweeds and a sustainable strategy should be to encourage more milkweeds fluorish so that there is plenty of host plants for you and your visiting insects.
From the Image Gallery
More Herbs/Forbs Questions
Small, flowering, evergreen plants for hillside in Austin.
October 27, 2007 - I have a steep, dry hillside measuring approximately 4 feet high by six feet wide. I want to plant low growing, evergreen, flowering plants across the bed that will flower as long as possible, and thr...
view the full question and answer
Eriogonum spergulinum, wild buckwheat
March 21, 2008 - Do you have any information on the wildflower Eriogonum spergulinum???
view the full question and answer
Native Perennials for Bees and Butterflies in VA
April 15, 2015 - What native perennial plants and trees can we plant to help honey bees and butterfly larvae in Harrisonburg, VA?
view the full question and answer
What gives the Creosote bush its characteristic smell?
August 09, 2011 - Good evening, Mr. Smarty Plants,
There is a question which I would please like to ask regarding a plant called "Creosote Bush" (Larrea tridentata)- does it actually smell like the creosote...
view the full question and answer
Native plants for flower beds in Aledo, TX
March 10, 2009 - I have 2 beds that together run the length of the house foundation (25' each), we have 2 spots I would like to plant a Yaupon (Pride of Houston) in each spot approximately 2' from the foundation;is ...
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |