First pic getting ready to j hang on my house? 😁
Some milkweed is just stalks, how far down will they eat it? Will the milkweed still bloom?
Thank you all kind friends for sharing your wonderful knowledge!
MW is perennial, so it should rebound with no problem once they stop eating it.
HereWeGo_Steelers
You may want to cover the cats on the plants to protect them from predators.
CapnAnonymouse
It’s got a few hours at least, but yes it’s getting ready to start the chrysalis process. You’ll know it’s about ready when its antennae are limp like ribbons all the way down (looks about halfway in this pic).
They will eat the entire plant down to stalks, but prefer to eat the tender new growth first (so might not bloom because they’ll eat the flowers). The milkweed will grow back though, either later this season or next spring.
Marigold_Dust
What a beautiful caterpillar and a wonderful job you’re doing helping a threatened species!
4 Comments
MW is perennial, so it should rebound with no problem once they stop eating it.
You may want to cover the cats on the plants to protect them from predators.
It’s got a few hours at least, but yes it’s getting ready to start the chrysalis process. You’ll know it’s about ready when its antennae are limp like ribbons all the way down (looks about halfway in this pic).
They will eat the entire plant down to stalks, but prefer to eat the tender new growth first (so might not bloom because they’ll eat the flowers). The milkweed will grow back though, either later this season or next spring.
What a beautiful caterpillar and a wonderful job you’re doing helping a threatened species!