Date: 09/05/2012

Number: 1

Currently, I have 10 Monarch caterpillars feasting on my bloodflower. I had just a few Monarchs visit this summer but I watched as eggs were laid on my milkweed, butterfly weed, and bloodflower plants. I have found four chrysalises in the yard and now am waiting for the caterpillars to move to the pupa stage. They range is size but two are about ready to form chrysalises. The Monarch butterfly that I saw yesterday had just emerged from the chrysalis. The chrysalis was attached to an impatiens leaf. the impatiens are in a pot on my deck and the pot was on the railing. The caterpillar had to travel about 7 feet across the lawn and climb up the deck rails to the railing which is about six feet off the ground. Pretty amazing! I watched it for about 10 minutes but it was letting its wings dry so I left it alone. It flew off later in the day.

Fallston, MD

Latitude: 39.5 Longitude: -76.4

Observed by: Cheryl
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