Finally! A Monarch Chrysalis!

I've been searching for a Monarch Chrysalis for years and this morning I finally found one. And it looks like it's nearly read to break free and fly too.

Monarch caterpillar update

Milkweed seeds being taken by the wind. Plumb Beach, Brooklyn

The tale of the monarch caterpillars of Plumb Beach ends here. We checked the milkweed and found no caterpillars. We searched for a chrysalis on the underside of leaves both on the milkweed and other plants nearby but came up empty. I'm pretty sure those caterpillars picked the perfect spot to hide away while they undergo their transformation so I'm not worried about them. Just a little disappointed that I won't have a picture of their beautiful green chrysalis for my nephews. The good news though is all the milkweed seeds about to drift off in the wind, ensuring more food for next years caterpillars. Also, the Monarch butterflies were at FBGA's butterfly bushes in numbers today and visited my Verbena bonariensis. I love that plant.

Verbena bonariensis, pollinator magnet

The Verbena bonariensis in my bee bed at Floyd Bennett keeps going and going and going. There's no end to the bees and butterflies that visit. My nephew, the insect lover, is going to go wild for this photo which captures the probiscus dipping into the flower for food. He'll also be happy to know that we checked on the monarch caterpillars eating the milkweed near Plumb Beach. There are four still feeding on the plant as of yesterday.

Got Milkweed?

Asclepias physcocarpa in the Rose Garden annual border, also known as Balloonplant, for obvious reasons once you've seen its seedpods. Another milkweed. People have been asking alot about this pretty tall plant. Native to Africa, it's both decorative and a host to the monarch butterfly. How awesome is that?





















Not to be outdone, our Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) was spotted tonight on a bike ride to Floyd Bennett and it was host to two species. The Large Milkweed Bug and what sure looks like a Monarch caterpillar. Thanks to Caleb Leech and Bugguide.net, I now know exactly what that orange bug (and it's a true bug) I've been wondering about is. Onocopeltus fasciatus. Say that three times fast for kicks. Or just call it the Large Milkweed bug and be happy.





















Maybe if we get lucky, we will catch the Monarch in its chrysalis. Joe and I spotted a few caterpillars on this one Milkweed plant near the bike path and will try to remember to keep our eye on the plant in the next few weeks. This last generation will fly south to Mexico to overwinter.