Sharing some monarch photos. I don't have photos of eggs...so post 'em if you gottem'

Milkweeds (asclepsias) are the larval host plant. Caterpillars can readily strip a milkweed plant. Rule #1: You can never have too much milkweed

The caterpillars are easily identified by their black, yellow and white/cream bands. They also have only two sets of predominately black filaments (Queen butterfly caterpillars are very similar but they have three sets of filaments - which sometimes have a maroon colored base)







Lovely green chrysalis - extremely well camouflaged when hidden amongst the leaves.
(Queens also have the same colored chrysalis but I have found they are a little bit smaller and have slightly different gold/yellow spot patterns)




Nectaring on duranta



...remember...post 'em if you gottem

~ Cat

Cat,
Your pictures and narrative are lovely!

Here's a shot that I call 'Love Butts.' The one on the left is obviously male and the one on the right is female.

Tdogmom,

How do you tell which is female and which is male? I've never had two at one time to compare...and unless the markings are obvious they tend to look the same to me. I'm lucky if I can figure out the monarchs from the queens and soldiers.

Let me know...so next time I photograph them I can remember to get photos that will assist me in figuring out which is which

~ Cat

Cat,
The male Monarch has a 'scent' gland on his hindwings—one per hindwing. The female doesn't. The gland is pretty easy to spot (even my Kindergartners can now gender ID Monarch butterflies!). If you look closely at the picture, you can sort of see the spot…it is on one of the veins. It is REALLY obvious when the wings are spread. Here's a picture of Bonehead, this one butterfly I raised. See if you can spot the glands…


Now, here is a female. Note how she does not have the glands on her hindwings.

Cat - thanks for all the informative posts you give us with lots of great pictures. Love em!!

Tdogmom - thanks for the clarification on male versus female. Those pics show the difference very well!

********
Paisley
Denton, Texas
Zone 7b

Sherry,

Many thanks for pointing out the difference!

I've seen those spots before but didn't realize only the males had them...DUHHHHH!!!

Goes to show, we learn new things every day

Keep posting your photos and sharing your knowledge with us.



~ Cat

thanks, cat and tdogmom, I've really enjoyed this thread, and learned a lot!
one paid me a visit today:



stan
nashville, tn
zone6b

You are most welcome!

Here's another note…

Queens have the same gender IDing 'spot'—the males have the little spot on the hindwings just like the male Monarchs! Females don't have 'em…

You can also gender ID Monarchs when they are pupae. There is this line that forms between the little black dots below the cremaster. If you see this vertical 'line' then the Monarch that ecloses will be a female. If there is no line, then it will be a male. My Kindergartners are always in awe when I tell them, after looking at a chrysalis, if a Monarch chrysalis is going to have a male or female eclose…("It's magic!" many will exclaim!)