Monarch Firsts (for Me)

Our property has hosted monarchs before.  I recall my first two larvae after putting in butterflyweed (Asclepias tuberosa) probably ten years ago.  After a few years of seeing them, they seemingly disappeared from our yard for about three years (while their populations had really plummeted).  After a bit of a rebound, I have seen them in the yard again.

However, this is the first year that I not only got some photos of them in flight, I also witnessed a female laying an egg--twice (on two separate days).  :)  I found it very satisfying.

In addition, the adults used to seem like rare visitors, but this year, over the past two or three weeks, I seem to see one in our yard each day I go out!  Cupplant has proven itself a great favorite with not only the monarchs, but other butterflies and smaller pollinators. 

The milkweed that I winter sowed (and, later, posted about planting out in the meadow) are pictured here, in pots with the monarch making good use of them.

...Not Over by a Long Shot!

For the past three days I've been out taking photos inspired by the fall...but especially inspired by the activity that the asters are attracting.  Yesterday, I got a huge surprise:  brand new monarch butterfly!  She was absolutely pristine!

Wing detail:

I was thrilled to see her, but she flew off after I took some pictures, I hate to think I scared her off...I was really hoping to see her the next day, but no luck...perhaps she had to go; she has a LONG journey ahead of her!

Today, I saw more pollinators and another species or two of butterfly.  ~smile~  As hard as I tried to show the amazing activity busying themselves all over the asters, the photos don't do it justice.

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.

Similarities

Yesterday, when observing the only monarch caterpillar I'd found this year, it became clear to me how the white dots on a black background that is found on the adult monarch butterfly is also found on the larvae.

...and the white spots on the black body of the adult (from a photo I took last year).

More Than it Appears

I spotted what seems to be a lone monarch caterpillar again today.  I'm still hoping there are more, but for now it is the only one I saw.  However, when taking the picture, I noticed there are three arthropods in the photo.

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.

Immaculate Monarch

Although I included the monarch butterfly in my "Pollinators of All Different Stripes" post, I'd like to showcase it here. It looks brand new...perhaps it is newly eclosed from its chrysalis--and perhaps it is result of one of our very own caterpillars "born" and raised right here.

With so much rain for a week or two and too much to do lately, I never took the time to search for the chrysalises...maybe next year I'll get a shot of one of those beauties.

More Pollinators of All Stripes...

The Little Guy Seems Confused

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.