Blast From the Past: It was October/November two years ago,
we were inundated with caterpillars, have you seen these beauties?
The Mystery Caterpillar/Butterfly is identified!
These guys were all over the yard late this summer.
I have kept the milkweed growing hoping to see a monarch chrysalis, but as yet I have had no success.
Just these little guys all over the dirt.
One little guy crawled up next to the back door.
He managed not to get eaten by the dog or the birds.
Actually more birds got eaten by the dog while they were trying to eat the caterpillars.
He made a totally beautiful chrysalis.
I had to go back to MN for ten days, and was thrilled to come home in mid November and find the chrysalis still intact.
One day I looked out and the chrysalis was open and no butterfly.
I found it had flown inside and got wedged between stuff, so I took it outside,
and let it flex its wings on a rock.
He waited just long enough for Jim to get home and see him before he flew off.
Thanks to all of you that helped us identify this as a Pipevine Swallowtail,
and ID'd the greenage in the yard as well.
If only our milkweed would bring in as many Monarchs!
