Date: 07/04/2022

Number: 3

Because I had not seen a monarch butterfly flitting about my common and swamp milkweed, I was not expecting to see any larvae.

Around 5PM, while I walked the edge of our pond, I happened to see, out of the corner of my eye, a large monarch caterpillar busily munching on a leaf. I returned to the house for my camera. Back on the scene, I found two more, same large size, munching away on separate plants.

The photo I sent is of a larva chewing on a common milkweed flower bud.

Around 5 years ago, I planted some common milkweed seeds along our pond berm. (We had no milkweed on our property.) Out of thousands of seeds, only a half dozen plants came up in one area. Now the patch is extending. It has felt so good to see that if you plant milkweed, monarchs will come!

I checked my swamp milkweed and have not found any larva or eggs, yet. This milkweed is located in our small wetland on a pond and drainage edge and planted around 10 years ago. Monarchs eventually find these milkweeds too. Right now, the flowers are just starting to open.

Arcade, NY

Latitude: 42.6 Longitude: -78.4

Observed by: Donna
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