Date: 09/13/2016

Number: 1

One 4th instar cat on my white swamp milkweed (A. incarnata Ice Ballet.) It looked plump and healthy. I have noticed adult monarchs occasionally around the milkweed patches in my yard. I brought in some 1st instar cats earlier this year and raised them successfully to adults (reported earlier.) This latest cat I missed when inspecting milkweed so I will let it finish growing outside. I am adding 4 to 6 new patches to the 2 I have in the yard (depends on how much energy I have to dig new garden beds.) I bought 40 new swamp milkweed plants for the new beds--24 white and 16 pink. (I mixed milkweed types in the first two beds I put in last year but the common milkweed would be better separately in their own 2 patches because they spread readily.)

A friend who raises monarch caterpillars is bringing me her latest batch of cats--she has to go to help a sick relative out of town unexpectedly. She said she has between 40 and 50 cats and most are 3rd instar. I still have tropical milkweed in good shape they can feed on. (Although when checking it I noticed I have a crop of milkweed tussock moth cats on a few of them. I have moved those plant pots away from the rest of the tropical milkweed.)

My swamp milkweed and common milkweed in the yard is beginning to look like it is getting ready to go to sleep/die back for the winter.

King George, VA

Latitude: 38.4 Longitude: -77.1

Observed by: jessica
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