Milkweed Tussock Moth

Euchaetes egle

"Euchaetes egle" is a moth in the family Arctiidae. It is a common mid- through late-summer feeder on milkweeds and dogbane. Like most species in this family, it has chemical defenses it acquires from its host plants, in this case, cardiac glycosides. These are retained in adults and deter bats, and presumably other predators, from feeding on them. Adults indicate their unpalatability with clicks from their tymbal organs.
Milkweed Tussock Moth Caterpillar - Euchaetes egle Twinsies <3 Habitat: Milkweed in a meadow Euchaetes egle,Geotagged,Milkweed Tussock Moth,Summer,United States,caterpillar,larva

Behavior

One generation per year in the north, two or more in the south.
Milkweed Tussock Caterpillar This caterpillar sported wild tufts of black, white, and orange hairs (setae), which are characteristic warning colors.. The head was black. As with monarch larvae, milkweed tiger moth caterpillars obtain cardiac glycosides from the milkweed that they feed on, and they continue to retain them as adults. But, while the milkweed tiger moth caterpillars have the bold warning colors of orange and black, the adult moth is drab and brown. Usually, you would expect the adults to also have bright warning colors just as the larvae do in order to scare off potential predators. However, the cardiac glycosides stored in the body of the moth are still put to good use, but in an unusual way. The milkweed tiger moth has an organ that emits an ultrasonic signal, which is easily detected by bats. The signal somehow warns that an attack will be rewarded with a noxious distasteful meal, and bats thus soon learn to avoid these tiger moths as potential prey. Caterpillar,Euchaetes egle,Geotagged,Milkweed Tussock,Milkweed Tussock Caterpillar,Milkweed Tussock Moth,Summer,United States,moth week 2018

Reproduction

Early instars appear slightly 'hairy' and gray. They skeletonize whole leaves gregariously, leaving lacy leaf remnants. They are gregarious until their third instar. Later instars sport tufts of black, white and orange setae. The head capsule is black. The later instars wander much more, and may appear alone or in groups of 2-10. Mature caterpillars occur from June onwards. Larvae grow as long as 35 mm.
Milkweed Tussock Moth Caterpillars - Euchaetes egle These early instar larvae are small, yellow, hairy, and have black heads. They have voracious appetites and can quickly consume entire milkweed leaves. Habitat: On milkweed leaves in a rural garden. Euchaetes,Euchaetes egle,Euchaetes egle larvae,Geotagged,Milkweed Tussock Moth,Summer,United States,caterpillar,caterpillars,larvae

Food

This moth frequently uses Milkweeds and sometimes dogbane as larval host plants. Larvae often feed on older milkweed shoots, and seldom share shoots with Monarchs "Danaus plexippus", which prefer younger ones.

Dogbanes and Milkweeds produce a sticky latex that can impede larval feeding. Early instars avoid the veins by skeletonizing the leaves. Older larvae sever the veins that supply the latex, which reduces laxtex flow to the area they feed on.

References:

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Taxonomy
KingdomAnimalia
DivisionArthropoda
ClassInsecta
OrderLepidoptera
FamilyErebidae
GenusEuchaetes
SpeciesE. egle
Photographed in
United States of America