Think I found it - Milkweed Tussock Moth, Euchaetes egle, a boring little moth. I'm so disappointed. Anyone know how to get the Monarchs instead?

Shelley

Plant milkweed! Or look at this link which lists butterfly host plants (you need plants that feed the butterflies and the caterpillars)!

Here is a link that might be useful: http://www.nhm.ac.uk/research-curation/projects/hostplants/

Those are awesome caterpillars though.

I understand that monarchs are less common this year. As a migratory species, habitat destruction in any part of its range reduces its numbers throughout the range. Regarding the milkweed moth, it is remarkable that so many insects feed on plants as toxic as milkweeds. I have seen milkweed beetles, milkweed bugs, aphids and a few butterflies and moths.

Those milkweed moths have completely stripped the foliage from the plants. This has been an interesting; I've learned some things. I plan to plant more milkweed and hope that next year I'll get some Monarchs, too.

Milkweed moths and monarchs both host on milkweed (before I noticed the milkweed moths on my milkweed, I thought that monarchs were the only ones that hosted on it). So, yes, perhaps your best strategy is to plant MORE milkweed to give everyone a chance.

While not native to the US (native to South America), I have found that adding some tropical milkweed gives you more plants and it reseeds for the next year. I found it at local nurseries being sold as annuals.

Here is a link that might be useful: Asclepias curassavica