Over about a 36 hour period we had almost 3 inches of rain. Not surprising I was able to catch this beauty with diamonds on it’s back! Filling out nicely and sporting water drops!
The edge of the leaf shows you how busy this monarch caterpillar has been! That ridge is the center vein of the leaf! Only half a leaf remains.
Then there is the dueling duo! (With Lucky’s leg in the lower background! What a good dog to sit while I take photos!)
Wonder which one eats the fastest? The one in rear of photo looks largest until you notice the curve in the head of the one closer to you! Wonder if the eggs began side by side?
When I saw this adult female in the garden I had to wonder if it was newly hatched? I have never found a chrysalis in the wild. I have seen them formed in my terrarium when I was raising caterpillars a time or two. This year I did not bring them inside at all. When they first emerge it takes a while to pump up their wings, dry their wings and then a little rest. Next they go find a flower to nourish them. No more milkweed leaves for them! No, that is not bamboo forest in the background. Those are stalks of Cosmos!
These chrysalis are from a terrarium. The only thing in nature I have ever seen with gold on it! The butterfly has just hatched out. The black chrysalis will open soon. The caterpillar that is curved is about to form a chrysalis.
Make time for the small wonders. Perhaps they are the best wonders of all!!
Never ceases to be amazing!
Gorgeous! So fulfilling to be a part of the process.
Wow. I think it is so cool that you are raising Monarchs, Molly. I am amazed to see the specks of gold on the crysalises–they really are wondrous. I have never seen one in the wild. If fact, I have not even seen one of the caterpillars this year, though I check carefully when I pass by milkweed plant during my photo trips out in the wild