Date: 08/31/2020

Number: 6

I have large planters just for pollinators on my deck But hadn't seen any Lepidoptera since the Cabbage Whites this Spring and various Moths There's plenty of Common Milkweed in the ground But they didn't come through here on their way North So I wasn't even looking for Monarch eggs on my potted Tropical milkweed when I noticed the oleander aphids had found one of the plants While spraying them down with a diluted milk spray I was delightfully surprised to see the big guy pictured here happily munching away! Mama Monarch must've chosen lower inside leaves because that where I found the most evidence of feasting and 2 more 5th instars Unfortunately I also found 3 3rd instar caterpillars dark and lifeless There are any number of predators with so many different blooms crowed together I've been concerned for the cats with so many different wasps From the tiny ones I can't focus on even with a macro lens to the Dark Paper Wasps I'll be protecting these precious firsts from The milkweed cuttings have been rooting well and it's finally time to set up the pop-up cages outside to get some Monarchs off to a good start I've missed them Can you tell?

Crittenden, KY

Latitude: 38.8 Longitude: -84.6

Observed by: Jypsi
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