My first encounter with the Blue Jay Barrens population of
the Ohio endangered Unexpected Tiger Moth, Cycnia collaris, formerly Cycnia
inopinatus, was seven years ago. My
encounters with this species have increased each year since then, and this year
is no exception.
Unexpected Tiger Moths are a milkweed dependent
species. Last fall, a few larvae were
found on Common Milkweed, Asclepias syriaca, growing in the narrow strip between
my driveway and Water Garden. When
larvae of this species are ready to pupate, they move into the plant litter at
the base of the host plant and pupate near the soil surface. I am assuming that this is exactly what occurred
last September. This spring, the adults
emerged and apparently laid masses of eggs on the young milkweed plants
emerging at the time.
The larvae are present in numbers many times greater than
what I saw last year. The amount of
plant damage occurring from feeding larvae is readily apparent.
Most of the feeding is occurring on the young leaves at the
growing tip of the plant. There are
about 10 larvae working on the particular plant.
Plants with more larvae show more leaf damage.
There are at least 20 larvae working on this plant. The milkweed can’t grow quickly enough to
stay ahead of these ravenous caterpillars.
Many of the larvae are moving out to begin feeding on the
older leaves. This intensive feeding won’t
harm the milkweed. This batch of larvae,
the first of two yearly broods, will soon mature and leave the plant to pupate. The plant will recover and be ready to
hopefully host another batch of larvae in August.
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