I’ve been checking my Milkweed plants daily for caterpillars. The Tropical Milkweed has beautiful little clumps of flowers.
Unfortunately, they are a favorite of the tiny caterpillars. Either that or it is much safer for them there. I am just starting to get blooms again. I just have to keep them from being eaten by aphids or the little guys.
During my hunt…I run into lots of interesting things…like this Swamp Milkweed Leaf Beetle. It looks like a giant Ladybug. I’ve been seeing things that look a bit like a short slug and turns out it is an immature Leaf Beetle.
Then there is the Large Milkweed Bug….when the little ones hatch there is a mass of small red bugs. They are usually in the buds so they get removed.
Today I found this little guy….I tried looking it up…but no luck. So if you recognize it…let me know.
It’s a beauty…whatever it is. Probably preys on little caterpillars. I went back to find it but it was gone.
This little fellow was only about 3/4 of an inch long. I believe it is the Florida native Green Tree Frog. We used to have them all over the place but the invasive Cuban Tree Frogs started taking over. This is the second one I’ve seen so far. I hope they are making a come back.
I was getting a couple of Giant Milkweed ready to go in the Butterfly House. I wanted to water and feed them good and make sure no ants had made their home in the pots. This pair of Tussuck Moth caterpillars were on the underside of one of the leaves. Aren’t they cute? They look like little fluffy dogs or something. I read that they are usually found in large numbers but I only found these two. Guess I need to check the other plants. I don’t mind having a few …but can’t afford to have them eat all the milkweed.
I also found these eggs. I am hopeing they are Lady Beetle eggs. Gotta keep watch on them too.
I probably wouldn’t have noticed any of these of I hadn’t been hunting for caterpillars…..so…..get out there and really start looking your plants over. You never know what you will find.
Those are some interesting little critters... :)
ReplyDeleteCan't help you with the ID on the bugs or eggs, but loved all the pictures!
ReplyDeleteWhen I need to find out what kind of bug I've seen, I check www.bugguide.net. Maybe it will be a help to you, too.
These are all great macros. You really do look closely. Could the unidentified bug be some sort of stink bug? Looks similar to a conchuela.
ReplyDeleteThose Tussuck Moth caterpillars are cute. Can't they share? ;)
What fantastic photos, I must go and take another look at my garden. Diane
ReplyDeleteSome very nice close-ups of the little residents in your garden! It is amazing all the tiny critters that live in the garden. I'm sure we have a lot less variety than you do, but number-wise maybe the same.
ReplyDeleteI have the Large milkweed bugs and the milkweed tussock moth caterpillars but not sure about the others. I thought the same as another about the unidentified one being related to stink bug. I hope it's not since they will suck the plant juices. I love the beautiful tree frog.
ReplyDeleteFirst time I see a fluffy catterpillar, that's so cute!
ReplyDeleteI have been looking for monarch caterpillar's I found lots of the furry moths. I did find a some monarch caterpillars on my Parsley?
ReplyDeleteCaeapillars on parsley are probably the Black Swallowtail caterpillars.
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