Leave it there. That's a black swallowtail cat. Only Monarchs host on milkweed.

Lucky you. They know what to do, you just watch.

Thanks. I'll go look them up. I counted 4 today. I didn't look very hard. I've noticed them a couple times, but only one a day. Never this many.

When they get ready to form a chrysalis, they will move to another nearby plant.

I took a photo of a Monarch cat in the morning (Sunday). It had moved across the garden path and crawled up the large container to this purple fountain grass. {{gwi:520293}}From Monarch cats to butterflies on my blogl

When my son came in that afternoon, I took him outside and the chrysalis had already formed. It happens fast! I'm keeping a close watch on it.

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Cameron

My favorite butterfly, so glad they found your QALace. They also love parsley. My garden is full of butterfly nectar and food plants but I haven't seen much besides cabbage whites and hummingbird moths this year in Greensboro.

Cameron, It does happen fast. That 'J' shape was a clue of what was to come. I nursery raised Monarchs one time. Such a fun experience!

How long does it take from the chrysalis stage to hatch? I had maybe 20 or so earlier in the season on the bronze fennel, but they all disappeared and I didn't know where they went. I wish now I had checked nearby plants more closely.

I never saw a flush of butterflies though.....

I saw a poor Monarch yesterday on the buddleia, but it was very faded. I have lost my book so am at a loss when I see these wonders. Can you are recommend a good book?

Cameron, I remember now seeing that on your blog. Do they spend the winter here?

They are so cute. Please don't do anything to them. I had them once before and my little girl put them in a jar and fed it fresh dill every day until it formed a cocoon and finally became a butterfly. What a beauty it was.

I've been trying to lure them ever since but the proliferation of birds in my area is probably a deterrent. instead, my garden is regularly visited by goldfinches.

I love your parsley worm. Aren't they cute?

We had them near the parsley but their favorite this year seemed to be the rue. Here's one of the cuties:

Lynda

How long does it take from the chrysalis stage to hatch?

Ten days.

Here's an album with a few pics of a Monarch forming a chrysalis and emerging.

Monarch forming chrysalis & emerging as adult

Here is a link that might be useful: Monarch butterfly site

I'm so jealous! Please visit the butterfly forum as well. They have wonderful and knowledgeable folk over there.

I raise my cat's in a cage as the mortality rate is high in my garden. Spider's lay in wait for the poor fella's.

The Black Swallowtail make a chrysalis a bit different than a Monarch.

Swallowtail

Token -- Monarchs are just passing through to Mexico, though they passalong that instinct to offspring as butterflies don't live very long. There's a great PBS documentary on it, so you should see if it's going to air again. Monarchwatch.org is a great website.

BTW - it was our dear Edna (todanceswithwolves) who got me started on Monarchs! :-)

Cameron

I counted 8 today. Some are different colors, but seem to all be black swallowtail in various stages of age. I also checked the milkweed I have and the Gomphocarpus, but no monarchs are around. Maybe next year.

I really wanted to tear out all the QAL today. But I can't do it. I'll just have to wait until next spring. And I'm starting a new bed of QAL from the seeds I've collected just for these.

Tom, black swallowtails also host on dill, fennel, and parsley.

I have so many of the "right" plants, but no cats. Maybe the birds and spiders are eating them? Lots of those too.

I didn't realize there was a butterfly forum, I will have to check that out!

Tom, don't give up yet. Monarch's travel well into October. They usually show up in my garden around the middle of this month.

Lucky you! I love swallowtails, they're beautiful butterflies. Here's one that just emerged from it's chrysalis in my butterfly house.

Robin

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Fantastic picture!

Thank you todancewithwolves!

Wow, It's all so fascinating and I am impressed with these shots.
gramma jan