Monarch larva on milkweed- This is not a pest!
By Lori
- 14 Mar, 2008
- 9 likes
The larvae of this butterfly spend their life cycle on the milkweed plant...Asclepias. Which is totally wild and not usually a garden plant. Hence, they are no threat to anyone's flower patch!
Comments on this photo
Which end is its head????lol
14 Mar, 2008
Do you suppose birds have the same dilemma? Which end do I grab?
14 Mar, 2008
The left side is his head. Monarch larvae accumulate toxic chemicals from some species of milkweed, making them distasteful to birds, but they do have many other preditors, mostly insects.
14 Mar, 2008
What amazing animals these are - the longest migration route of any insect, I believe?
14 Mar, 2008
Look at the fantastic colour and body patterns!
14 Mar, 2008
Great close-up photo, Lori ! I always try and grow at least one of the host plants they feed on in the garden.
15 Mar, 2008
I thought right side is his(her?) head... Anyway I can't get close to them!
23 Mar, 2008
WOW!!!!!
3 Jul, 2013
I just noticed that this lovely larva has been added to the pests page... I hope it will be removed as it is anything but a pest. This was meant as a "nature study" pic.
7 Jul, 2013
Sorry about this Lori, actually it was added about a year before I joined GOY but I will be happy to remove it from the pest page.
7 Jul, 2013
Thanks Drc726! I appreciate that. I had no clue that it was on the page until a new goY friend commented on the photo. was a wee shock...thanks for helping me correct this.
7 Jul, 2013
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12 Feb, 2008
These are the kind that I see eating the leaves of my plants.
14 Mar, 2008