Caterpillar ID needed
Jan 8, 2020 15:45:17 #
This guy and his buddies just ate my milkweed plant! Can anyone ID it for me?
Jan 8, 2020 16:02:37 #
Jan 8, 2020 16:03:01 #
Looks like a last instar Monarch Butterfly larva.
Keep it on milkweed and it should pupate.
Bill
Keep it on milkweed and it should pupate.
Bill
Jan 8, 2020 16:15:03 #
Thanks for response! The plant was attracting butterfly's but I didn't know they would eat the whole thing. All the leaves and flowers are gone, but I'll leave the critters there and hope they turn into a Monarch.
Jan 8, 2020 18:53:34 #
I agree it's a monarch, Nim, and what a great shot of the hungry little critter!
Jan 9, 2020 06:16:32 #
nimbushopper wrote:
This guy and his buddies just ate my milkweed plant! Can anyone ID it for me?
Nice shot nim
Jan 9, 2020 06:30:34 #
nimbushopper wrote:
This guy and his buddies just ate my milkweed plant! Can anyone ID it for me?
I hope you don't mind me posting an image from my backyard. I have been having milkweed and Monarchs for years, and they are doing their thing here in NE Florida now too. Here is what to look for. Your milkweed will keep growing. They will eat it, pupate, hatch out, then come back later to lay eggs that will hatch and tiny caterpillars will start munching all over again.
Jan 9, 2020 07:09:33 #
Dixiegirl wrote:
I agree it's a monarch, Nim, and what a great shot of the hungry little critter!
Thanks Donna!
Jan 9, 2020 07:09:49 #
Jan 9, 2020 07:11:35 #
roxiemarty wrote:
I hope you don't mind me posting an image from my backyard. I have been having milkweed and Monarchs for years, and they are doing their thing here in NE Florida now too. Here is what to look for. Your milkweed will keep growing. They will eat it, pupate, hatch out, then come back later to lay eggs that will hatch and tiny caterpillars will start munching all over again.
Thanks, and I enjoyed your post! I'm happy to hear that the plant should grow back .
Jan 9, 2020 07:19:21 #
nimbushopper wrote:
This guy and his buddies just ate my milkweed plant! Can anyone ID it for me?
It’s a D11, with no ripper.
Jan 9, 2020 07:29:53 #
Bunko.T wrote:
It’s a D11, with no ripper.
I don't understand D11, or the term ripper!
Jan 9, 2020 10:21:59 #
nimbushopper wrote:
This guy and his buddies just ate my milkweed plant! Can anyone ID it for me?
wow...lucky you, nim...you're going to have butterflies...and they're going to be monarchs!
Jan 9, 2020 11:01:03 #
merrytexan wrote:
wow...lucky you, nim...you're going to have butterflies...and they're going to be monarchs!
Well, I'm not so lucky if the plant doesn't come back!
Jan 9, 2020 11:31:47 #
nimbushopper wrote:
Well, I'm not so lucky if the plant doesn't come back!
Rest easy. Most, possibly all, milkweed are perennials.
Natural pruning like this can force root growth. When the plant recovers, it will often come back larger. Look how some weeds seem impossible to eradicate.
To increase, collect seedpods and broadcast seeds.They transplant poorly. Plant natives,not cultivars. Both larva and adults use them for food, not so with most cultivars. They provide nectar only.
Hope this eases your worry.
Bill
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