Oh metamorphosis!
This open-winged monarch (male, notice the two dots on the lower wings) made me pause as I walked out my front door. I thought it was alive and giving me a sweet treat. But, it is not living. Instead I get a
lesson about loss.
I also notice that there are no caterpillars on the milkweed plants except one full and almost ready to make a chrysalis. Usually the caterpillars eat the plants down to the stalks. But in my garden now, there are still leaves on most of the plants.
I decide to watch. And this is what I see:
A paper wasp flies in and grabs that big caterpillar and eats it!
Last year, I began my garden in late June and I did not have any wasps. So, I'm taking a break from feeding the larva. It's early May. Many monarch and other butterflies continue to visit because I have a diverse assortment of nectar plants.
About the wasp. I have a new respect. I just read that wasps have face recognition (of their own species). I think I'll smile when ever I see one.
