Cloudless Sulphur

Cloudless Sulphur laying eggs on Senna, Cassia spp.

Early Instar of Cloudless Sulphur on Senna

Munching Senna leaf, Cloudless Sulphur caterpillar

Cloudless Sulphur sheltering in Senna leaf

Killed by Wasp:  Decapitated Cloudless Sulphur caterpillar on Senna leaf

Beautiful Cloudless Sulphur caterpillar, chewing Senna. "Frass" is the word for caterpillar droppings.

Did you see that yellow butterfly?   What kind was it? 

Those lemony flashes are Sulphur butterflies.  If you prefer, you may use the "f" word and spell it "Sulfur".  They are fast, flitty and rarely alight long enough for my little camera to focus. There are different types of Sulphurs and each has a specific larval host plant.  Larval hosts include:   legumes, partridge pea, senna, acacia, clovers and alfalfa.  Adults will enjoy nectaring at your flowers. 

I have a shrubby senna tree (Cassia spp.).  It froze to the ground during our cold snap, but has cheerfully re-grown from the roots.  During April, this made my garden very popular with female Cloudless Sulphurs, Phoebis sennae.  Notice that the larval host is part of its scientific name.  You have to look closely to spot these caterpillars which are the same shade of green as the senna leaves.  The senna also offers physical protection for the larvae;  in the evening, the leaves fold together like butterfly wings, forming a shelter over the caterpillar. 

I was worried that the short plant could never support all the caterpillars I was seeing.  I needn't have worried because the wasps obliterated the caterpillars.  One day there were scores of larvae, in various instars, covering the senna.  A few days later, despite camouflage and hiding, only two remained.  I hope they were able to survive to pupate.  Timing is important.  When the next female Sulphur lays her eggs, the senna will be larger and the wasps may not be nesting.

Monarchs in the Milkweed Patch!

Early instar of Monarch Caterpillar on Asclepias curassavica

Monarch Caterpillars on A. curassavica.  How many do you see?

Four Monarchs munching - they are running out of leaves.

When the leaves are gone, but you're still hungry, gnaw on the stem. Monarch Caterpillar on A. curassavica.

Ultimate Instar of Monarch Caterpillar, Ventral View

Finished Monarch Chrysalis &  another caterpillar in J-Stage, preparing to shed skin and form chrysalis.

Newly eclosed Monarch

     Yay!  Monarchs! They are the reason we plant milkweed (Asclepias spp.) They are having such difficulties that I am thrilled when they can rest, refuel and reproduce in my garden & my Milkweed Patch.  I am a registered Monarch Waystation; perhaps they see the sign?
          A nice brood developed in mid-December. It was probably too early for butterflies to be migrating north from Mexico, so I believe it was a year-round resident female monarch who visited.   Alas, the day several adults eclosed (hatched), we had unusual, record-breaking, freezing weather that lasted for days.
     By the end of March, another female monarch found my milkweed.  How do they find it, I wonder?  A nice bunch of caterpillars grew fat munching on the fresh milkweed. We counted eight jade-green chrysalides suspended from the soffits;  there were surely more in the shrubbery or on the flowers that we did not see.
     Safe journey north, little guys.