First I found one single caterpillar on my Zexmenia plant. Why only one, I wonder? Last fall I had many! They lay gobs of eggs together. Then later, I saw the actual butterfly! Maybe there will be more caterpillars!
Bordered Patch Butterfly
How pretty!! And Zexmenia is a host for them? I'm glad to know that since I have some coming back. I would love to have new cats this year. I don't know what one of these cats looks like tho. Do you have pics?
Is this the same type butterfly? I took this pic a while back.
Those are so pretty.
Oh wow, those are really pretty! Both pictures :)
konkreteblond, the Bordered Patch cats I've seen are kind of dark and fuzzy-looking. I found one site with pics, since I haven't taken any yet. The ones I've seen look like the dark form shown.
http://hartmanprehistoricgarden.com/sa-chlosyne.html
They start off extremely tiny and bunches of them can skeletonize the Zexmenia leaves one by one. They use other sunflower-type plants, but I've only had them on Zexmenia. That pic you have sure looks like the same kind to me.
Thanks Linda! I remember my butterfly being fairly small, compared to Monarch's, so I'm assuming this cat hunting is going to require my magnifying glass. lol I'll be keeping my eyes out for the BP's this year. I would love to have some Buckeye cats too!
Last fall was my first experience with Bordered Patch cats and also my first with the Buckeye cats. I found the Buckeye cats on some Agalinis plants! Just a few, but I was happy.
I planted Frogfruit just for the Buckeye's but have never seen any cats on it. They are one of my favorite butterflies. I just love the colors, and it's cute name. :)