Milkweed tussock moth
Euchaetes egle
Moth
Native moth whose hairy black-orange-white larvae feed on milkweed alongside monarch caterpillars. Less well-known than the monarch but equally dependent on Asclepias; the larvae's caterpillar-tussock appearance often startles gardeners who recognize monarchs but not tussock moths.
Plan for this species
Location-fit plant set for Chicago, IL: host and specialist plants first, then nectar, fruit, seed, foliage, and shelter plants that still fit the current and mid-century climate read.
4 essential relationships / 0 supporting plants
Host/specialist links: 4
Forage/pollination links: 0
Shelter links: 0
Relationship roles: 1
Butterfly weed
Essential / Larval host plants
Common milkweed
Essential / Larval host plants
Tussock moth larvae often share milkweed plants with monarch caterpillars; both species depend on Asclepias.
Swamp milkweed
Essential / Larval host plants
Milkweed tussock moth (Euchaetes egle) larvae are Asclepias specialists alongside monarchs - both species sequester cardiac glycosides from milkweed sap for chemical defense.
Whorled milkweed
Essential / Larval host plants
Milkweed tussock moth (Euchaetes egle) larvae are Asclepias specialists that share milkweed plants with monarchs, sequestering the same cardiac glycosides for chemical defense.
Plants in the catalog
Larval host plants · 4
Tussock moth larvae often share milkweed plants with monarch caterpillars; both species depend on Asclepias.
Milkweed tussock moth (Euchaetes egle) larvae are Asclepias specialists alongside monarchs - both species sequester cardiac glycosides from milkweed sap for chemical defense.
Milkweed tussock moth (Euchaetes egle) larvae are Asclepias specialists that share milkweed plants with monarchs, sequestering the same cardiac glycosides for chemical defense.
Range
Eastern and central North America wherever Asclepias grows.
Sources & citations
Cite this page
Use this citation for the Plotwright wildlife record. Use the source cards below to explore the references that informed its taxonomy, range, conservation, host plants, foraging, and habitat.
Plotwright. (n.d.). Milkweed tussock moth (Euchaetes egle). Retrieved 2026, August 20, from https://plotwright.com/wildlife/milkweed-tussock-moth
Sources used for this record
This record is compiled from the sources below.
BAMONA: Milkweed tussock moth
Species profile for range, brood timing, and Asclepias larval-host dependence.
Wikipedia: Euchaetes egle
Corroborating reference for milkweed-host biology and adult/larval identity.
GBIF: Euchaetes egle
GBIF backbone key 5116353 is an exact accepted match for the milkweed tussock moth Euchaetes egle in family Erebidae.
iNaturalist: Euchaetes egle
iNaturalist taxon 81677 is the active species record for Euchaetes egle with observation range data.