My 3 year old grandson found these on a plant on the front porch yesterday....is it of any significance whatsoever???
I know nothing about caterpillars!!!
Looks like a Monarch. See http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=1892
It's a Monarch cat, here's a picture of the milkweed plant that it must have to survive. I'm not sure exactly what kind of milkweed it came from. Can you move the cats back to the plant? They will die if they don't have that plant to eat.
If they are big like the one in the pic, they may survive and pupate when there's no more food, but the littler ones would not.
http://educationalscience.com/merchant.ihtml?pid=3444&step=4&merchantid=4&repid=0&passwordstatus=passed
Thanks, I do have Asclepias currassvica on the front porch that i haven't planted up....will move him over there.
Look what else I just found....they are everywhere.....
yeah!!!! I am learning!!!!
Yay!!! You're lucky to have a young butterfly helper too!
If the caterpillar from the first photo leaves the milkweed plant again, it is probably looking for a place to pupate. Although a few will pupate on the milkweed, most leave the milkweed to pupate elsewhere. Congrats on your Monarchs!
gosh, every day is a learning day on DG....didn't even know that people follow little critters around like this and feed them the 'right' plant. I have always done it for the birds..never gave the poor little butterflies my attention.
Yes, fly_girl, isn't it like a 3 year old to teach grandma what is important!!!
LOL yeop I sure hear that gail!! My youngest son(8) is great at wildlife details. He asks a lot of questions, but he remembers what you tell him... plus he looks things up. It floors me!
Congrats on finding the Monarch cats, how cool! As Linda said they are trying to find a place to hang and make a chrysalis. They look ready for sure. Thursday while I was out working in the yard I found 4 Gulf Fritillaries crawling across the yard. I had to pic them up and put them back close to the fence so I wouldn't accidentally step on one.
Your in good company here gail!
Deb
There is a good chance that people like us get laughed at!!!! I know the farmers around here tease me a lot for protecting even the little creatures that come into my house here in the country....my brother was horrified when I told him to leave them alone...that I would help get them out of the house safely later on.
I KNOW my neighbors think I am certifiable. I have emailed all of them requesting caterpillars, nettle and thistle (lol). I can just imagine the conversations in their homes.
We need a whole lot more of the "Certifieds" to help clean up the mess the "sane" ones have done to our planet and all it's creatures.
P that is most diffenantly "Certified"and learning more everyday.
I agree red :-)))
:-)
Our first cat of the year on Mexican milkweed.
Last winter they reproduced all winter. This winter was very cold and we have few butterflies so far.
Awesome Trios! Great picture!
I just thought to tell you gail, If you see any more wonderers you might get a clean critterkeeper at a pet store and put them in it wen you find them. As Linda said they are looking for a place to pupate. They no longer need to eat when they wonder off.
This way you can keep the chrysalids safe from preditors until they eclose, and have the joy of releasing them with kids or a friend. They can be cut off leaving the cremaster in tact, then tied with thin strong string (unflavored dental floss, etc) Then hang them in the top of the well vented container.
Thanks, Deb.
Deb, I am on my second cup of coffee and don't quite understand what you are explaining....will come back later when I am totally awake.....I want to learn...
gail