We came from here:
The thread "April 2014 Butterflies, Moths & Larva" in
Gardening for Butterflies, Birds and Bees forum
Is it May already? Where has the time gone? And where are my Swallowtails? I've seen a few flying while driving around the last couple of days but I'm still caterpillar-less. However, I got a cool surprise this afternoon!
I came home from finally seeing "Noah" and I was picking the Monarchs off the nearly completely eaten Tropical Milkweed so I could put them on the Giant Milkweed. I may not have an ark but I like to think I'm doing my part little by little. So I'm looking at the caterpillars and I kind of focused on one that was a little odd - because it was a Queen! Woo hoo! I hardly ever get Queens! I only found the one and it is now safely living in my bedroom.
And in further proof that Monarch cats (and most cats in general) will build a chrysalis anywhere...here's one getting ready to go into his J above my parents' bathroom window (I can tell these things, LOL).
And here's a chrysalis on the hose holder thingie. Once, Dad actually found a chrysalis on the hose itself. He made me take it off so he could use the hose.
And here's one on my False Indigo (Amorpha fruticosa). It's a host plant for the Silver-Spotted Skipper (which I have gotten rarely) and the Southern Dogface (of which I have only seen one adult in seven years). Apparently, it's also a good Monarch resting place.
Not to worry folks, Dad and I agreed that the house cannot be pressure-washed until butterfly season is over. And even then, he makes me go around the house and inspect it first!
