Does anyone think this caterpillar has black death? I had a crysalis turn black l, so I'm concerned. This one seems to be acting normal; shed his skin last night. I've never seen one suspiciously dark, but I've heard people say it's just a variation. I have a 5th instar a few feet away that looks normal.
My crysalis that was going to open today was eaten by a catbird.
Also, it seems like paper wasps overlook first and second instar caterpillars. I see them making their rounds, hunting, and I find it hard to believe they don't see them. So I was wondering, is there any evidence of paper wasps deliberately allowing them to get big? Has anyone else noticed "farming behavior" in wasps?
It has only happened once before, but one caterpillar chose to pupate on a milkweed leaf. Looks like tomorrow might be the day! I also have some 1st instars, a few eggs, and another crysalis under the patio table. Plus a wanderer who either met his demise or hid very well!
I have 2 small common milkweeds coming up in a pot. They have exactly 21 eggs on them. This is one leaf with four eggs. The smaller of the 2 plants has three eggs. I suppose they will end up as food for something but also, I doubt that will leave enough food for even one. I prefer to let nature take its course, but I am considering relocating a few to a local patch of milkweed if I could find some. The other option is to move to my garden back home, an hour from here, but I already have a bunch of first instars up there.
Finally! I have about five eggs (that I can find) in my little milkweed patch! This is much later than last year. I was starting to worry. I never saw the butterfly. Now my pretty milkweed will look all raggedy, but that's how I like it! The second pic is just the milkweed and some flowers in my garden. I'm in NJ.