Milkweed Caterpillars - Ask Extension
I've been watching a couple of milkweed plants by my house hoping to see Monarch caterpillars with no luck.The only thing I saw was some black stuff o...
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Milkweed Caterpillars #878587
Asked July 24, 2024, 1:41 PM EDT
I've been watching a couple of milkweed plants by my house hoping to see Monarch caterpillars with no luck.The only thing I saw was some black stuff on the bottom of a few leaves and some small black ants around it. A few days later I looked and found one plant almost totally stripped down to the stem. See pics. There were a lot of caterpillars but I don't think they are Monarchs. A couple of days later the other plant was covered with the caterpillars. What do I have and should I do anything? Will the plants die? I've been trying to with natives or little maintenance plants.
Greene County Ohio
Expert Response
Hi,
You're right. Those are not monarchs; they are milkweed tussock moth caterpillars and they are indeed voracious. Here is an article that advocates for leaving them in the garden as they are natives who contribute to diversity, but that is up to you.
https://hgic.clemson.edu/milkweed-tussock-moth-caterpillars/
This one, also, talks about their virtues are pollinators:
https://anokamastergardeners.org/gardening-articles/meet-the-milkweed-tussock-moth-caterpillar
Let me know if you have any other questions,
Barb
You're right. Those are not monarchs; they are milkweed tussock moth caterpillars and they are indeed voracious. Here is an article that advocates for leaving them in the garden as they are natives who contribute to diversity, but that is up to you.
https://hgic.clemson.edu/milkweed-tussock-moth-caterpillars/
This one, also, talks about their virtues are pollinators:
https://anokamastergardeners.org/gardening-articles/meet-the-milkweed-tussock-moth-caterpillar
Let me know if you have any other questions,
Barb
