While passing through Dam Number 4 Woods South in Des Plaines a few days ago I saw a milkweed tussock caterpillar, also known as the milkweed tiger moth larva.
The adult isn't very attractive, but the larva is a beautiful black, orange, and white furry cutie. The caterpillar's diet consists of milkweed leaves, but they don't compete with monarch butterfly larva--the former favors older, tougher leaves, the latter likes younger foliage.
Related post:
(Photo) American Dagger Moth caterpillar
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