Look at the caterpillars on this wikipedia page. DONT squish them! That's what butterfly weed is FOR!

:)

Here is a link that might be useful: monarch butterflies

Hibiscus, how wonderful you have Monarch caterpillars! How large are they? If they've eaten enough foliage that you notice it, then they are probably pretty large. They will get about 1 1/2 - 2 inches long and then go off and find some place to pupate. Some could also disappear through predation. In a couple weeks they will eclose and you may notice beautiful butterflies in the garden.

I had WS'd a packet of butterfly weed that was doing well when I planted out. I planted out way way too close together and then got busy with the veggie garden. To sum it up, the butterfly weed I believe got choked out. There's one little piece growing that I could find. I left the tag in in case it comes back next year.

However, there was parsley right next to it that has several vibrantly striped caterpillars on it. Look like the photos of Monarch caterpillars but a more vibrant green color is also on them. Are they possibly still Monarch's caterpillars?

bookjunky, try looking for 'striped parsley caterpillar' photos. Parsley is a fav of black swallowtail, the cats for those are striped too.

Great! Thanks for the info on butterflies, guess I never really studied up on them. Always learning, I will plant more next year, would be a good plant along the ditch. Always avoided "weed" plants until this year but some of them are very beautiful. Also planted some Joe Pye this year and I really like them too. Never could get them to sprout until this year.