Date: 09/05/2021

Number: 1

About 100 Asclepia syriaca plants almost without leaves because of several dry weeks in VA, with temperatures arriving at 96 F; plus a great number of tussock caterpillars. This year many very young caterpillars disappeared. In the region swamp milkweed showed a higher number of mature caterpillars in relation to common milkweed (according to a local Facebook group) suggestng that the drought may have turmed the latex more concentrated, or with stronger flux, in the usually prefered common milk weed, what could explain the high number of young and older caterpillars that disappeared in relation to last year. Some with techniques to control the flux of latex survived. A much lower number when compared to 2020 mature caterpillars.

Lovettsville, VA

Latitude: 39.3 Longitude: -77.6

Observed by: Beatriz
Contact Observer

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