More Common Milkweed Visiters
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| Monarch Butterfly on Milkweed |
These butterflies were frequent visitors of the Common Milkweed when I was at the nature center. Their numbers began to subside and in my last year there I saw very few.
The eggs they lay on the leaves hatch into the caterpillar.
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| Monarch Egg |
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| Monarch Caterpillar |
The caterpillar eats milkweed leaves continuously and exclusively. When it has eaten enough it attaches its tail to the plant and spins itself a cocoon.
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| Monarch Caterpillar |
This caterpillar is beginning the process of spinning its cocoon. It is in captivity, the reason for which, is because it crawls off to a secret location to do this. I have watched them every day on the milkweed until one day they are gone. I've searched high and low to know avail. Hence, this one in captivity.
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| Red Milkweed Beetle |
I think I neglected to mention that the milkweed leaf contains toxins which would kill a creature not immune to their poison.
I sincerely enjoyed watching the drama unfold and I miss it.
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