Monarch Caterpillars

Description:

Shown here are a very late and a very early instar of the monarch butterfly. The large one left very soon after these photos; I believe it left to make its chrysalis rather than having become something else's prey because it looked old enough to make a chrysalis. More photos of the younger instars to follow. I counted 7 on the same plant the large one was on a week later.

Habitat:

Suburban yard on milkweed plants

Notes:

The milkweeds were tropical milkweeds and did not die down when native ones usually do, which is why the butterflies kept laying their eggs. This is not desirable and the plants should either be cut down or brought inside when the natives start dying off to prevent OE infection and impact to the migration and breeding cycle. Read more here: https://monarchbutterflygarden.net/is-tr...