The caterpillars may consume most of the bush before they form a chrysalis and pupate. This is normal and the bush will grow back. The larvae use the food from the bush to feed themselves before they pupate.
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| Monarch Butterfly Bush Flowers and Seeds |
These butterflies are one of the most amazing creatures on the planet. Most generations of Monarchs live only four or five weeks, but in the late fall, a final generation migrates from locations in Canada and the United States to central Mexico, where they hibernate until they awaken in the Spring to mate and begin the northward migration through successive generations back to their northern locations. The caterpillars we see on our bush now in San Diego in late October will continue the migration and may actually become the hibernation generation. For more information see Monarchs of Migration.
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| Monarch Butterfly Larvae |
I was just amazed at how beautiful these caterpillars are. We have three of them industriously chomping away at the bush. They've grown considerably larger in the three or four days since we first noticed them; they've already eaten most of the leaves off several of the stems and look like they're already about big enough to form the chrysalis.
To be continued (we hope) .....
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