Is this a solitary caterpillar? Bordered patches lay their eggs in large groups. I'm not familiar with the cats, being in the southeast, not the southwest. It could be a bordered patch, although there are other butterflies that lay eggs on sunflowers, like painted ladies.

Sherry

thank you! and i found about 8 others around this guy on one leaf but couldn't seem to find any more around the other plants.

I'm starting to think it is a painted lady if i look close there's faint lines running across the top of him.

Checkerspots also use sunflowers. Regardless of which it is, it'll make a pretty butterfly.

Sherry

i guess we will wait and see if anymore come around when they are older and patterns may be more clear! it also created like a webbing around it while it was stationary. Thank you for some ideas!