Green Treefrog and Monarch Caterpillar

Green treefrog and Monarch larva on A. curassavica

A lovely young Green Treefrog, Hyla cinerea, was sleeping the day away on a milkweed stem.  While I was admiring the frog, a plump monarch caterpillar came crawling up the same milkweed stem, heading toward the delicious leaves above.  The caterpillar was momentarily thwarted by the roadblock.  No worries, eventually the hungry caterpillar crawled around the sleeping treefrog and was soon eating milkweed leaves.

Large Milkweed Bugs

Large Milkweed Bug, Oncopeltus fasciatus, on A. curassavica

 

 I am looking at a Large Milkweed Bug nestled softly in a tuft of downy milkweed seeds.  What a cozy spot.   But the bug is not keeping warm on a breezy morning, it is eating.  Seed bugs, like this Large Milkweed bug, suck juices from seeds and other parts of the milkweed plant.

 Inside the pod, or follicle, the milkweed seeds overlap like fish scales, or plates of armor.  When the pod ripens and splits open, the silk attached to the seeds begin to dry.  The fibers fluff and puff, catching the slightest breeze.  Make a wish!  When I was a girl, we said that if you caught a drifting milkweed seed that your wish would come true.  Plant the seed and wish for Monarch Butterflies!

Large Milkweed Bug, Oncopeltus faciatus on Tropical Milkweed

Three unopened follicles of A. curassavica, One opened pod with Large Milkweed Bug

Inside the pod, milkweed seeds overlap like fish scales.

Green Anole eating Monarch Butterfly

So sorry for the lapse in posts;  I was without a computer for a while.  

Yesterday, I spotted my first female Monarch Butterfly of the fall.  She was busily laying eggs on the leaves of each milkweed, A. curassavica, in my garden.   After about 5 minutes of egg laying, she rested on a milkweed flower.   For another first, I reported my sighting to Journey North:    

http://www.learner.org/jnorth/monarch/   

About an hour later, I was back in the garden with the dogs and was dismayed to see a female monarch becoming a meal for one of our green anoles, Anolis carolinensis.  Monarchs contain toxic cardiac glycosides so many creatures avoid eating them.  Unfortunately, with our drought, there are not many insects at all.  Anoles must eat what they can find.  I am glad the Monarch was able to deposit her eggs. 

This Texas drought has made food scarce for insectivores.

See the anole's ribs? He must have been hungry.

The Monarch is still fighting.  She stuck her foot in the lizard's ear.

The next day:  Lizard resting with a fat tummy.  Does he feel ill?

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.