I took the kids on a short hike this morning by a local creek. Trying to find some milkweed since my monarch cats don't like the Asclepias tuberosa. Look what I found. Once I popped off a leaf...the stalk oozed white sap. I found milkweed! I brought it home and the cats have been devouring it ever since. What a relief!
Can you find the caterpillar below?
It was huge! An Imperial moth caterpillar!
Can you find the two caterpillars below?
Polyphemus moth caterpillars!
It's experiences like this that make me want to rush right back out the door to see what I can find!
Can you find the caterpillar below?
It was huge! An Imperial moth caterpillar!
Can you find the two caterpillars below?
Polyphemus moth caterpillars!
It's experiences like this that make me want to rush right back out the door to see what I can find!
wow those are some HUGE cats! Awesome discovery!
ReplyDeleteThanks! My kids got a kick out of them as much as I did. A few walkers saw me snapping pictures and came over to see what I was doing. They were surprised by the size as well. I went to a different park last night, but I didn't find any other interesting creatures. I did find bigger patch of milkweed though.
ReplyDeleteKim
that's the all orange milkweed? My sister and I don't get any action on that either, other then as a nectar plant. Mine love the swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) and at Sisters they like her swamp and common milkweed plants.
ReplyDeleteGlad you found more milkweed!
Yes. The A. tuberosa (orange) has never attracted any monarchs to lay their eggs on it. It was common milkweed that I found at two local parks, and they have been chowing down on it. I did order a couple of A. incarnata plants to add to my garden to make my garden more attractive to some egg-laying monarchs. I see them fly through and nectar off the butterfly bushes, but no eggs have yet to be found on the tuberosa. It's still a good nectar plant and pretty though.
ReplyDeleteKim