August 23, 2025

What a great surprise to find a caterpillar of a Monarch Butterfly (Danaus plexippus) on some Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa) yesterday. Quite a small caterpillar. It’s on the leaf of the Butterfly Weed, which is between 1/2 and 3/4 inch wide.

The Monarch has four phases in its life; egg, larva, pupa, and adult. This caterpillar is the larval stage. Developing from egg to adult in the warmth of summer happens in about 25 days.

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