I would be perfectly happy with Queen caterpillars!
Well, I dragged myself to MOSI today and snapped a few pictures. The Swallowtails are starting to drop in numbers, but me and my friend Dominic found a bunch of Black STs and three Giant ST cats.
I released a bunch of Malachites. We have dozens of caterpillars, too.
Julia
Zebra Longwing
Spicebush ST and Monarch. Looks like a Cloudless Sulphur tried to photobomb me on the left.
Malachite again
Spicebush ST getting photobombed by a Zebra Longwing
Hickory Horned Devil cat craawling up my arm. I didn't have anyone willing to hold this guy except my buddy Dominic. I had a few adults who would touch it but I think I only had one kid touch it. Most kids are wimps these days!
Cloudless Sulphur
Back home I saw this Skipper. I'm going to send it to BAMONA but don't expect an answer anytime soon. The FL BAMONA folks have been super slow getting back to me. They must be backlogged.
There was a Cloudless Sulphur laying eggs and I tried to get photos but couldn't do it. But it's okay because I found a caterpillar. This is probably an Orange-Barred. This time of year the Senna is in bloom and the caterpillars eat the buds and flowers to turn themselves even yellower. The normally green Cloudless Sulphur cats will also turn yellow from eating the flowers. I don't even bother looking at the leaves; I just check the flowers to find the caterpillars.
And I was happy to see a Zebra Longwing because I've only seen one since I got home.
