Our Common Milkweed plants are now bending under the weight of rapidly maturing seed pods. The butterflies and moths are gone, but their eggs have hatched and the next generations are foraging aggressively on milkweed leaves.
Monarch caterpillars:
Milkweed Tussock Moth (or Milkweed Tiger Moth):
Confession: I was unfamiliar with this creature until recently and my first photos were butt shots. Didn’t realize I shot the wrong end of the caterpillar until it started moving!
Photos by NB Hunter (August, 2018). © All rights reserved.
Nick's Nature Pics 