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Butterfly Garden

Milkweed Tussock Moth Eggs

16 years ago

What do you do with them? I found a cluster of about 12-15 on one of my milkweed plants. Do they eat a whole lot? Of course, I supposed I have enough to spare considering I have a lot of plants. I was just wondering what most people do with them. I kind of hate to kill them because I like moths too. I guess the only way I would is if I knew they'd eat tons of milkweed and eat it away from the Monarch cats.

Cathy

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Comments (3)

susanlynne48
16 years ago
I don't kill them. I just let them have their share. I don't bring them in, mind you, and I think a lot of them are "wasp food". They don't eat that much so as to decimate your plants. Kenna likes them, too. She calls them her "fur balls". They are pretty cats, and so-so moths. It's just up to you. I leave em alone and let them have some milkweed, too. If you have any cynanchum laeve (milkweed vine), you could move them to that as well.

They will eat eggs and tiny Monarch larvae by accident.

Susan
caterwallin
Original Author
16 years ago
Susan, Okay, I was pretty sure that's what I was going to do. I guess I just needed a go-ahead on that. :) I think the eggs are a pretty color. I'll let them outside and whatever happens happens, but I'll make sure to watch the plant closely for Monarch eggs because I don't want to lose any of them. Thanks.
Cathy
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I didn't see my first Monarch till about a month ago. Then last week I noticed a large number of very big cats in one of my milkweed patches. Now I have adults coming out of my ears. As far as the Tussock Moths are concerned I'd say I have about 30 cats all on one plant. They seem to stay together on the same leaf till it's gone then move en mass to the next leaf.
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I have a shocking confession....I'm a tussock killer! They completely RAVAGE the milkweed and there's none left for the monarchs. This year I removed one tussock covered leaf from the common milkweed. Later in the season I found an egg-covered tropical milkweed leaf and the little terrors were just starting to hatch. I did an internet search to determine that they were tussocks since I'd never seen the eggs before. However, when I came back the next day ALL the eggs and cats had been devoured by either bees, wasps, or spiders. I'm guessing wasps since they really like the tropical milkweed flowers. Tussocks are like little milkweed piranhas. Long live the Monarchs! :)
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I think I remember seeing on some documentary that Milkweed was a crucial plant for Monarch butterflies as they are on their migration routes. I don’t know though you if that referred to the foliage for the eggs and caterpillars or the flowers for the butterflies. Could these little hatchlings be Monarchs? I searched it but could only find pictures of caterpillars much further along in their development.
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caterwallin
Original Author
16 years ago
Oh, I forgot to say that no, I don't have any cynanchum laeve.

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?what to do with this little guy?

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