New to Me

I've only been observing monarch caterpillars for a few years, and this is the first time I've witnessed one eating a seedpod.

And Then There Were Two

Today, after looking for the lone monarch caterpillar I found on one of the butterfly weeds, Asclepias tuberosa (and finding him apparently gone on his "walkabout"), I discovered a second, smaller one on another plant across the yard.  Here's hoping I find even more on the other milkweeds I have.

Finally!

Today, after at least a month of looking for any signs of monarch butterfly caterpillars with no luck, I spotted one while not even looking.  I've seen an adult monarch at the flowers and flitting around the butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa) for weeks now.  So, I had high hopes for eggs or larvae.

I did a cursory look for more, but didn't see any...but that doesn't mean they aren't there.

World of Wonder

I almost called this world of weird, but world of wonder is probably more accurate.  Aside from attracting birds, butterflies, and cute critters, when one opens up their eyes to the insect world, there is even more to see, admire, and enjoy.

Holes in the leaves indicate to me that I'm providing sustenance for insects, which in turn provide food for birds raising their young as well as insect predators and such.  The holes do not bother me, and for the most part, I have to look for them.  Definitely at a distance, the trees look fine.

Although, I've seen tree hoppers/leaf hoppers before, these seemed to mesmerize me.  Not only the color, but how many that seemed to congregate on the stem of one of the quaking aspens.   It excites me to wonder what new forms of life I'll encounter in the months and years to come.  The more diversity in plants I provide, the more diversity in animal life will appear.

Butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa), one of the milkweeds, is the host to monarch and queen butterfly larvae, here's hoping this means I'll be spotting some caterpillars before too long.

Sassafras is a host plant to spicebush butterfly, tiger swallow-tail, Palamedes butterflies, and pale swallowtails.  New leaves will replace those with holes. :)

Although, I've seen this "flying fuzz" insect before, I've never been so lucky to get a photo of one.


...And one more that puts the "weird" in he wonder:

What is it?    (...more to come)

Better Late than Never

For at least a month, I've been searching for monarch caterpillars on all of my milkweeds, but mostly on the blooming butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa). I've been disappointed and a bit disillusioned. Last year, I had two monarch larvae--my first ever--and I was thrilled. It was a let down this year...at first I thought I'd lost one or two of the butterfly weeds (luckily they all came up even though one was almost a month late)...then, no caterpillars--until now!

Today, I went out walking the yard, and stopped at the milkweed (the one I'd thought I'd lost...and the one that supported the two caterpillars last year). I was surpised and thrilled to see a rather large monarch larvae--probably 4th or 5th instar (but I'm still learning so I might be wrong). I hadn't seen a single egg nor any tiny caterpilars...however, as I was taking a picture of the one I'd found, I noticed the head of a second one munching the tip of another leaf, but nearly hidden from view as it was on the underside of the leaf.

Here's hoping I find the chrysalis before it ecloses...as last year I only found the empty "skin". Whether I find them or not I'm just happy to know that the monarchs are finding them.

Butterfly Weed

Asclepias tuberosa

Emerging Evidence

After our two monarch caterpillar got progressively bigger, they disappeared. Because the Argiope aurantia spiders had webs near the butterfly weed, I was just a little concerned that they had become lunch. Some of the good people at my favorite forum (Wildlife Gardeners) told me that it was unlikely as they become more and more toxic the more milkweed they ingest. I was told that they had most likely crawled off to pupate--thanks tineckbone.

I half-heartedly looked for the chrysalises, but soon gave up. Just yesterday, I stumbled across what I quickly realized was the remains of the chrysalis that had enclosed one of the caterpillars. I missed the green gem with the golden dots of the chrysalis, but easily recognized the remains of it. So far, I've only seen the monarch's chrysalis in photographs, but I hope to spot them next year.

I'm thrilled to have spotted this evidence that the caterpillar survived and emerged as an adult monarch butterfly. As bridget1964 says, "If you plant it, they will come." I'm happy to say they did, and I plan to add more milkweeds to the property. Here's hoping to have a lot more butterflies and caterpillars next year.

To be Continued (part two)

I felt pretty sure that the spider would not catch and eat the monarch caterpillar, but thought it was a possibility. I'm trying not to interfere with nature and did nothing to move or protect him.

Later, I went out to take more pictures and to check up on him. For a minute or two I didn't see either of them. Then I spotted one...and a bit later the second one resting comfortably on a leaf.

Here are the latest pictures:








We finally got some rain. This morning I woke up and it was still dark because of the overcast sky. I grabbed the camera and walked out to the butterfly weed. It had rained a little over night. Still groggy and not feeling fully awake, I searched until I finally spotted both larva and took pictures of them as they stayed out of the rain by hanging out upside down on the underside of a leaf.

Later it began to rain again, and we had a slow steady rain most of the day. It was much needed.

Anticipation

Butterflyweed (Asclepias tuberosa):


Anticipation...















...It's making me wait...