Date: 09/17/2013

Number: 1

The Monarchs continue to surprise me... While watching a Ruby-Throated Hummingbird sipping from a Texas Milkweed flower, I spotted a Monarch caterpillar (~ 1 inch long) on the stem just below the flower. Then, turning to look at Common Milkweed nearby, I saw a large 5th-instar cat resting on the underside of a leaf, then an-almost-as-large cat roaming on a large leaf nearby. I've been scanning the milkweed plants regularly as I gather leaves to feed the remaining cats I'm rearing, but hadn't seen any cats in awhile so thought I'd found them all. Surprise. Glad that the hummer helped me notice the Monarch larva, then find the others. Brought all three cats inside to join the rest of the Monarch clan. Luckily, I still have a few young Common Milkweed plants, as well as 10 good-looking Texas Milkweed plants in the garden, so enough to feed without searching elsewhere.

McCordsville, IN

Latitude: 39.9 Longitude: -85.9

Observed by: Marilyn
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