I found these bright plump caterpillars the other day on the pretty weed that I dug up and planted in the corner of the back garden.
After searching on the web, I found out that they are the second stage of becoming a monarch butterfly!
And at the same time I found out that they feed on only one type of plant and it`s a common milkweed So my weed must be that. The leaves look more like Joe Pye Weed but the flowers are a little different. I`ll have to investigate it more again next year.
For some reason I always thought the orange and black fuzzy ones were monarchs in the making. The ones that roll up into a ball when you pick them up. But by looking them up, they are called Banded Woolybear caterpillar. Interesting info and these prefer to hang out under the willow tree.
Below is why this plant caught my eye. I had to borrow this picture because my blooms are now over......
6 comments:
Gorgeous photo's my lovely friend.
Love Jeanne
monarchs! wow ~ I love butterflys ~ I get caterpillars on my orange tree and the butterly is absolutely gorgeous.
Lovely plump caterpilars, and fantastic stripes. I love the mist in the photo on the previous posting.
Beauty of a photo! My garden is also on it's last legs, with only my faithful shrub rose, Jens Monk, still giving off color.
How lovely..and how lovely the fact that you let it go on to that next stage. So many people ick out over such a critter and send it to bye bye.
Great photo!
Wow, those are some worms. Yuk. I hate worms. But those are pretty for worms. hehe.
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