The other day I wrote about the value of using echinacea in the garden. As it turns out that it’s not only valuable to us as an ornamental or as a pollen plant for beneficial insects but it also can be a host plant for the Silvery Checkerspot butterfly (Chlosyne nycteis)! This weekend I discovered this mass of tiny black caterpillars each one barely half an inch in length. (That’s an estimate only since I don’t usually carry a ruler with me.)
Before identifying these caterpillars my first thought was to get rid of them somehow but instead I went to the good old search engine and looked up some information using the terms “black caterpillars on coneflowers” and I found all kinds of information pointing to the larval stage of the Checkerspot butterfly. If you check out that link you can see what the butterfly looks like as an adult. After determining that this little caterpillar infestation looked like it would have a positive outcome I left it alone. I think it’s always important to research an insect problem before you treat it. You never know but one of those ugly and strange looking creatures could potentially turn out to be a beneficial insect or maybe a beautiful insect in your garden!
Monarch Caterpillar on Milkweed
On our land I’ve purposely allowed the milkweed to grow. I want our land to be a haven and waystation for the monarch butterflies as they migrate south. I’ve been watching all summer to see when they would be passing through and took a short video of a monarch caterpillar that I found devouring a milkweed plant. Milkweed is the…
Zinnias and Butterflies
One of the things I love to do, but often don’t have enough time to do, is visit gardens. I like seeing what ideas other gardeners have had and taking a bit of their creativity back to my garden. We recently visited a farm and picked some pumpkins for the fall. While a farm and garden can be vastly different…
A Magnificent Monarch on Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca)
Just one really neat sight I saw this weekend was the monarch sipping nectar from the milkweed (Asclepias syriaca). Milkweed is the host plant for the monarch butterflies which serves a very important role in the life of the fluttering favorites of backyard butterflies. Milkweed contains a chemical called glycosides which get consumed by the monarch caterpillars (see more here…
Zebra Swallowtail Butterfly
One of the reasons I enjoy gardening so much is the ability to experience nature. Today I was treated to a butterfly I’ve never noticed before. What caught my attention was the blue coloration on its wings but otherwise it looked very similar to a tiger swallowtail. It also had red markings on the underside of the wings and on…
Zinnias: A Great Way to Attract Hummingbirds and Butterflies
Even though Zinnias begin with the letter “Z” they shouldn’t be your last thought for your garden. I’ve found that zinnias rival any other flower for attractive hummingbirds and butterflies. Hummingbirds love them, so much so that feeders are unnecessary. They are easy to grow, just sprinkle some seed where you want them and keep them watered to make them…
Interesting. Everyone knows that I adore Butterflies, I have a lot of this butterfly, haven't noticed the caterpillars though. I'll have to pay closer attention. Thanks!
I am often surprised at just how yucky the caterpillars are of some of our most beautiful butterflies. Good job researching them first.
Keep an eye on them, each caterpillar can eat up to twenty leaves before they get fat enough to find a twig or a fence to spin a chrysalis. They probably won't bother the flower part but may eat all of the leaves.
Eileen
I so agree with Tina about caterpillars! I love this little butterfly, it's so cute. gail.
Dave, this is great information. I have these caterpillars all over the garden. I do get rid of some of them because they overwhelm the Black-Eye Susans. However, I let most of them do their caterpillar thing.~~Dee
We nearly did the same thing….banish these masses of caterpillars. Then I IDed them as best I could. Likely the same species as yours! I'd rather be educated than prejudiced! 🙂
Thanks for the info! I found an infestation today on one of my coneflower plants.