Subject: Tussock moth?
Location: Hancock County, Ohio
November 13, 2015 1:58 pm
Is this a photo of some sort of tussock moth caterpillar? I came across it in Findlay, Ohio this summer. The closest thing I have found that looks like it are the tussock moth caterpillars, but I have not found one even closely resembling this. It was about 1.5 to 2 inches long.
Signature: Ivan
Dear Ivan,
Like the Monarch Butterfly, your Milkweed Tussock Moth Caterpillar, Euchaetias egle, is a species that is always found in association with milkweed.
Many thanks!. I’m finding out that milkweed is very important to the insect world!
That is why many years ago we created a tag to recognize the complex ecosystem of the Milkweed Meadow.
I have lots of them on my milkweed in Indy. I just want Monarchs! Are these harmful?
Define harmful. Monarch Caterpillars eat the leaves of milkweed. Are they harmful? Milkweed Tussock Moth Caterpillars eat the leaves of milkweed. If you consider the Monarch caterpillars not harmful, you should extend the same consideration to the Milkweed Tussock Moth Caterpillars.