I was taking a walk at Fort Hill yesterday morning when I happened to see a little “color” under one of the milkweed leaves on the side of the trail.  I took another look and there was this beautiful and colorful Monarch caterpillar. It’s the first one that I’ve seen this year. What a treat!

“The monarch butterfly is a recognizable North American insect known for its bright orange and black wings, long-distance migration, and dependence on milkweed plants.  Monarch caterpillars exclusively eat milkweed, which makes them toxic to predators, while adult monarchs feed on nectar from various flowers. The species undergoes a four-stage life cycle (egg, larva, pupa, adult) and undertakes a remarkable annual migration from Canada and the U.S. to overwintering sites in Mexico or California.”

The Monarch butterflies and caterpillars are so beautiful and so fascinating!