Date: 09/29/2015

Number: 1

On September 29, I found a caterpillar that hanging in a "J" from a leafless milkweed stalk at the Daniel Boone Native Gardens. When I checked back on October 2, it had formed its chrysalis.

This was overall the third 4th/5th instar monarch caterpillar I found at the Gardens this September. Most of the milkweed looked quite disheveled with barely any leaves left in the main patch by the end of September. Some plants isolated off to the side were still in better shape with some green leaves. Overall, I would be tempted to say it must have been a good summer for anything eating milkweed. I don't remember ever seeing it this "used up" before in this location. I also found one milkweed tussock moth caterpillar again, so they may have contributed to the defoliation as well.

Boone, NC

Latitude: 36.2 Longitude: -81.7

Observed by: Annkatrin
Contact Observer

The observer's e-mail address will not be disclosed.
Contact will be made through a web-based form.