Allow me to present the Swamp Milkweed Leaf Beetle

[Siwsan]

It's pretty but I hope it isn't a problem bug. Time to do some research.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. What a cool looking beetle, my dear Siwsan!

The markings are very striking.

And what a long name for such a little beetle!

[texasfiddler]

2. Any monarch caterpillars?

[Siwsan]

3. I haven't seen any, yet but I did see a butterfly flutterby.

It was too small for a Monarch. I think it was a Painted Lady.

[texasfiddler]

7. I have native milkweed on my place

I spotted a dozen or so caterpillars in April. They have already spread their wings and moved north. It is wild that it takes three generations to make the round trip to and from the mountains of central Mexico.

[yellowcanine]

4. There is also a nice long horned beetle on milkweed.

Look up milkweed Cerambycid. I can't do links on my phone

[Siwsan]

5. I will!

Thanks!

[Alliepoo]

6. monarchbutterflygarden.net

Has a lot of good info about milkweed pests. The grands and I raise Monarchs in the summer so we have milkweed in the yard. We have common and tropical for our lovely mama Monarchs to lay their eggs on!

[Siwsan]

8. I used to get quite a few Monarchs but there have been fewer and fewer

I'm allowing some nasty toxic weed rashes and blisters to heal so I haven't been able to do much gardening, lately. Hopefully I'll be back at it by next week so I'll have a better idea of what's crawling around.

[Talitha]

9. It sure IS pretty - thanks!