Just the back yard!? Nah, I want the front and side yards landscaped in natives too.



Showing posts with label chrysalis. Show all posts
Showing posts with label chrysalis. Show all posts

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

More Evidence

When I spotted the remains of the first monarch chrysalis, I felt lucky that I spotted it. I'm absolutely shocked that I spotted another one! While preparing the deck for staining, I went around to the front to remove some things growing onto the deck. If there was no breeze, I'd likely have never spotted it. I happened to be standing in the perfect spot as the movement from a gust of wind caught my eye. Among the blowing leaves, I saw something greyish white fluttering right at my eye level. It took me a second, but I recognized it as another abandoned monarch chrysalis.

Because it was almost 200 feet from where the caterpillars and the other chrysalis "skin" was found, I am wondering if there were other caterpillars that I missed. I did have those potted milkweeds near the deck for a while before planting them by the fence. I find it hard to imagine one fat caterpillar traveling that far for a place to pupate. Anyway, I now have more evidence showing that at least two monarchs metamorphosed in our yard habitat.