ENT 532 Fall 2024: Monarch Butterfly Caterpillar Observations
Photos and some sketches of the monarch butterfly caterpillar I observed while at Millbrook Marsh Nature Center (09/22/2024).
My recorded observations:
11:15am: Starting to get warm out. Caterpillar found eating on milkweed; 11:45am: sun is out, intermitten gentle breeze, partially cloudy. Caterpillar found farther down on milkweed. Extends posterior legs as it poops. Flicks antennae as it moves its head. The flick is so fluid, and note that many other insects just move their antennae up and down to sense their surroundings. What does the additional flexibility provide for this caterpillar? Is this fluidity retained in its adult stage? After collection, caterpillar curls into a ball. I think back to pill bugs and their similir defense mechanism. For pill bugs, though, they have a protective outer layer while the caterpillar has a soft body. In what way does this curling behavior help deter possible predators? After uncurling, caterpillar goes directly to milkweed leaf I placed in container, but after a moment moves back down to the bottom of the tube. End observation at 11:58.