My giant milkweed has exploded with monarch caterpillars again. They look to be close to their final instar, if not the final instar. Their gorgeous green chrysalsis will be appearing soon.
Beautiful site
Reply
Category Archives: monarch eating
Munching away
I had a little break, and now, the monarch caterpillars have returned chomping away on the swamp milkweed. The last few days, a female monarch butterfly has been paying many visits, laying more eggs on the leaves. One good thing about the Florida summer months is tons of rain promoting more growth.
Munch away
I planted three new native milkweed plants in the garden late last month for Joyful Butterfly. I planted it right underneath my front window, so we spot the female monarch laying eggs on the plants all the time.
The monarch caterpillars are munching away at an incredibly speed!
As the yellow, black and white stripped caterpillar eats the milkweed leaf it continues to grow and molts its old skin, splitting it in half. The caterpillar often consumes the skin before continuing eating the milkweed leaf. It can grow in length to 2″.
The caterpillar will molt four times, going through “instars” before its last molt.
Once they reach two inches they are ready for their pupa stage. The caterpillar finds the perfect destination to form its chrysalis and weaves a silk mat. The caterpillar grabs the silk with its legs to hang upside down in the “J” form, according to Arizona State University School of Life Sciences.
Morning snack
A monarch stopping by for a morning snack, nectar from a milkweed.
A little sip
A male monarch butterfly stopping by a penta for some tasty nectar.