My heart fluttered when I first found a couple of these caterpillars on my MW for the season. Then as I searched around the garden, there were numerous others about the same size. Presumably 1st instars? I'm so thrilled.
First Monarch Caterpillars Sighting 4 the Season.
They're probably 2nd. Maaaybe 3rd. Congratulations!
First instar are sooooo tiny you can hardly see the darn things! YAY!!!!!
Sad as it's! There is none to be found! Yesterday evening, as early as that, I checked back on those caterpillars, and they all have vanished. Don't know if they were picked clean by birds, wasps or what. I'm so sad walking around my garden this morning longing to see those wiggle worms that could potentially be something beautiful in the garden one day!
They are very good at hide and seek.
Thanks Jen. It's really a scary world out there for those hapless little critters. But, it's part of the eco-system. On the lighter node, autumn blooming flowers have begun here. Yours?
Keep watching...I mean where do the BST hide on that fennel plant so I don't seem them until the are 4th-5th instar sometimes...LOL!!!
My 6th monarch egg had hatched but didn't seem to be growing much...this morning I found it had died. I assume something was wrong with it.
Nan, I attempted to rescue a couple 5th instars last week. My effort was a misserable failure, two chrysalid formed, but the butterflies felt and didn't successfully pump up their wings when they eclosed --- I don't know for sure if they made it when I released them in the garden. From here on out, I respectfully keep my hands off. Isn't nice to intefere with mother nature! I am hoping these cats will make it through....if they do. I'll have roughly 40 of them whose journey to Mexico will be something else!!!
Wishing you the best of luck!
Out of a total of 7 eggs I only had 1 eclose successfully and was released. I am swearing of the monarchs and sticking to Black Swallowtails!