Monarch caterpillars on our milkweed

These are the first caterpillars on our milkweed for this year. Typically we see the first group in the April time frame but either we missed them or they didn't come this year. The caterpillars are a little different in appearance. In past years they have had 'antennae' on the front and back of the body but this year there was an extra pair up towards the front...so a total of 6...very weird. We're wondering if these are truly monarch caterpillars???

Category:

Education

Tags:

• monarch
• caterpillars

[darinandrade]

you had so much time while you were talking to move the plants. I think the first one you showed looked like a queen. the queen is less common but a more tropical butterfly.

[ConsulOfTheAge]

I am sure you figured it out by now, but there are actually Queen Butterflies. A close, non-migratory relative of the monarch. Neat find. I think they have migrated as far north as my house only once in the past 30 years.

[justinandkim84]

thanks for sharing hopefully i will be seeing monarchs soon. I have only seen the monarch butterflies maybe twice. I have had a few swallow tail caterpillars on my dill and fennel plants so I'll keep checking the milkweed.