Today I traveled about 1 mile from my house where a tornado tore through the woods last Christmas. The owner of the land finally cleared the broken, fallen trees out, and now there are sprouting stumps everywhere. I was gathering some nice, new growth sweetgum leaves for my luna moths. While I was there, I found some of the clasping milkweed growing on the side of the road - The seedpods are REAL big, much bigger than those of A. curassavica. It doesn't look like they're ripe yet, but I'll be visiting the site quite often, anticipating getting some of the seeds. I don't know if monarchs even like this type milkweed, but I'd sure like to have some growing alongside my own road. Sherry

I don't kill them. I just let them have their share. I don't bring them in, mind you, and I think a lot of them are "wasp food". They don't eat that much so as to decimate your plants. Kenna likes them, too. She calls them her "fur balls". They are pretty cats, and so-so moths. It's just up to you. I leave em alone and let them have some milkweed, too. If you have any cynanchum laeve (milkweed vine), you could move them to that as well. They will eat eggs and tiny Monarch larvae by accident. Susan

Pinee, Did you look up the Harvester Caterpillar? There is an awesome Photojournal on the Harvester linked to NABA. I'd find it really incredible if it is a Harvester. Harvesters usually eat woolly aphids found on Alder trees. Do you have an Alder tree around? I am totally fascinated by the Harvester BF. I saw my first one this spring at the nature park near my house. I've been reading up on them and trying to find the Alder tree in the park. So far, no luck. In the Photojournal, the author shows the life cycle of the Harvester. So you can see photos of the caterpillar. They are so, so fascinating. Could it be a Lady bug larva? They kind of look like slugs to me. They also eat the aphids. I'm inclined to think that what you have on your milkweed is an insect larva and not a BF. But, I've been known to be wrong! Sandy Here is a link that might be useful: Harvester Photojournal

rhizo, Euchaetes egle cats have hairs right out of the gate. Ally said her larvae are "completely smooth." Also, the coloration is wrong and they appear to be too large for 1st or 2nd instars that don't have the more famous look. And upon further review, I will concur that Iris does not have a ladybug pupa. The dark vertical line would not be on the pupa. Ally, Sod webworm is a catch-all name for a number of moth caterpillars that eat our lawns. Cats top out at about 1/2 inch. Your larvae appear to be bigger than that but a pic next to a dime would help size them. Counting the prolegs or a closeup side picture that shows the legs would help. Also take a peek at this page and see what you think: http://mothphotographersgroup.msstate.edu/species.php?hodges=4936