Date: 10/12/2018

Number: 4

After a extreme cold front moved in the low temperatures have dropped from 70 at 03:30 on the 11th into the 40s last night. I’ve kept my eye on a 4th instar all day and it hasn’t eaten or moved. Just in case that’s not from molting and because tonight will be raining and dropping from 50 into the 30s I scanned my plants and bought it in along with 3 5th I stars. I didn’t see any others or eggs in the dim light and short time before the rain started. I hope they can make it to chrysalis before my plants drop their leaves. After warming up they’re eating voraciously. Many insects were cold and sluggish in the plants. I saw tiny wasps not much bigger than fruit flies and several tachinid flies. Hopefully all of these caterpillars are parasite free. But this year the older larvae collected to research O.E. have been hit hard before I brought them in. Fresh eggs washed in mild bleach definitely increase the odds of raising monarch butterflies.

Elsmere, KY

Latitude: 39 Longitude: -84.6

Observed by: Jypsi
Contact Observer

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