We have a Monarch Butterfly caterpillar at the house! (Maybe MORE than one - gotta check the OTHER milkweed plants about the yard!). This may be the third set they do, with maybe more to come in Sept/Oct before that last migrates down to Mexico and Cali and is able to live four to six months (the other three batches only live two to six weeks each).
We've been waiting and waiting for years, and looking and looking for eggs, etc.
Their life cycle is 4 weeks from egg to butterfly: egg hatches in four days, spends two weeks as a 'pillar, then attache to stem or leaf and molts out that colorful cloak and hangs out 10 days.
In that time, its molecules are all scrambled, the body turns to gel, and just 'magically knows' how to rearrange what used to be skin and a bunch of Mary Jane-shoed feet into the classic Monarch.
Its milkweed comrade, the Milkweed Tussock or Tiger Moth caterpillar (fuzzy guy that looks like a calico Pekingese dog) braves our NH winters in a cocoon aided by that 'fur coat'. The young instars (stage of caterpillar between molts) know to avoid the veins of the milkweed leaves; the older ones give the veins a cutting chomp to stop the latex flow to their feeding area.
Wonder where they learned that, with no grownups around to teach 'em sense and skill?
Now, with the nights getting cooler, our one remaining gray squirrel (have seen only one red one, as well) is taking to enjoying a monopoly on the acorns, which we heard dropping near the Observatory. (Actually, in this pic, he seems to be eating a beech tree nut while hanging from his back toes).
I can't prove it, but I have a feeling squirrels are closely related to monkeys. Or vice versa. You tell me. What nuts he forgets about may hatch into treelings next year or serve as forage for deer and bears.
A she-bear's spring mating this year will only 'take hold' if she puts on enough calories to see both her AND young through a winter pregnancy.
Meanwhile, both the beech trees and the oaks (where acorns are built) will keep their scratchy-sounding leaves until next spring, perhaps acting as "Open" signs for the nuts that may be found all around them, kind of making food easier to find.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I'll have to make a point to monitor the milkweeds over the next few weeks in between chores and stuff. Hope you're finding cool stuff where YOU are!
Have a good 'un!
"Lark"
