Caterpillar and milkweed

A monarch caterpillar was enjoying time on some milkweed yesterday afternoon. It is preparing to move into the next stage, chrysalis.  After a couple of weeks it will then emerge as a butterfly.  You can read more about the stages of the Monarch's life cycle on the web at Monarch Watch. 

Monarch Caterpillar and Swallowtail Butterfly

Seems that both the Eastern Swallowtail butterfly and the Monarch caterpillar both enjoyed this form of milkweed, Asclepias tuberosa, in our front yard.

Insects in the park

I sat by the pond at Bassett Creek and simply looked around a bit.  I discovered within a couple of feet of where I was sitting this beautiful monarch butterfly caterpillar and a red dragonfly.  Both seemed to be enjoying their time on swamp milkweed. It is amazing how much one can discover simply by being still and looking around.