I noticed a lot of damage to this plant, but couldn’t find the culprit.
Until Wednesday. How could I miss this caterpillar?
Since I am not sure who he is, decided to leave him. To wait and see. Pretty sure he is a moth of sorts.
The plant is probably a Plectranthus. I purchased it on a whim from the neighborhood grocery store.
It is a fast grower. Easy to propagate by snapping off a piece and either placing the piece in a small amount of water or popping it directly in soil.
I posted this image of a variegated Brugmansia in September. That was prior to caterpillars made it their home.
The caterpillars look so much like the Brug leaves and stems they are often difficult to find.
Caterpillars Removed This Morning
This evening I found three more.
Pumpkins Before Rotating Them
When I Rotated the Smaller of Two
Several Tiny Red Insects Scurried Away
And I have no idea who this is–
After the last flowers bloom, I plan to remove all of the leaves and then treat the Brug with systemic.
Sphynx Moth in Henderson, NV garden last night.
I was using the flashlight on my phone to locate the moth and then used the flash. The moth was bopping around from plant to plant. At one point it flew into my ankle.
Roadrunner above Henderson, NV garden this morning.
The roadrunner was rather far away and in the shade. I did a quick (HDR Scrape), not great edit in Snapseed. Need to dink around with the HDR Scrape to find best way to use it.
There are two young Jack Rabbits in the garden that I have been unable to photograph. Too much fun to watch them, forget to take a photo.
Rescued Cactus
Rescued Cactus Cuttings August 2017
Rescued Cactus Bud About to Bloom
Rescued Cactus Bud About to Bloom Length
Rescued Cactus Bloom Evening Day 1
Rescued Cactus Morning Day 2
Rescued Cactus Bloom and Second Bud
Rescued Cactus Bloom
Trapped Cactus
Trapped Cactus
Trapped Cactus
Trapped Cactus Infestation
Trapped Cactus Infestation Detail
When I was painting shelves in the backyard, I heard a constant buzzing. I looked up at the Brugmansia in bloom above me. Bees were everywhere.
1 Bee
2 Bees
3 Bees
What were they doing???
I was away for a few weeks. When I returned, the first garden task was to cut the milkweed plants to the ground. I cut the first one. And just as I was about to cut the second plant I saw a small monarch caterpillar. Shouldn’t really be here in December. The temperature was to drop to the high 30s, so I cut some milkweed leaves and placed them and the caterpillar in a small jar.
Every day I clean the jar. Then replace the dried milkweed leaves with fresh cut leaves.
The caterpillar is still small, but I suspect it is twice the size it was when I found it.
I hope that it completes the caterpillar part of the cycle before I run out of milkweed leaves.
2017 December 29 Update
When cutting leaves for the little cat, I found another one. I brought it in. Now there are two.
2018 January 02 Update
Ran out of Milkweed leaves to feed to the Monarch caterpillars. Google search found several Monarch sites suggesting the use of slices of squash, pumpkin, and cucumbers as an alternative food source.
Sliced Squash
Squash in New Jar Set Up
Caterpillars in Jar with Squash
An Hour in New Home
Caterpillar Tasting Squash
2018 January 04 Update
2018 January 05 Update
Caterpillar Eaten Squash
Fresh Squash and Clean Room
Monarch Grove Pismo Beach, California/a>
Been checking the second Monarch chrysalis daily since finding it October 16, 2017.
Monarch Chrysalis Attached to an Angel Wing Begonia Leaf
Today when I was removing unwanted cabbage moth caterpillars from one of my variegated Brugmansia, I found another Monarch chrysalis. It may be newly formed since it still has its skin attached.
Monarch Chrysalis Attached to Variegated Brugmansia Leaf
Morning October 19, 2017
I have yet to see the full transformation from caterpillar to chrysalis. There is a fun video of the transformation on the Monarch Butterfly Garden site. It is amazing to watch!
Yes, the Brug has spider mites. Everything loves Brugs. When I am certain the Monarchs have continued on their journey, I can treat the Brugs.
Two Datura–different foliage, different flowers, and different seed pods.
Datura Ballerina Double Purple
Datura Ballerina Double Purple, October 18, 2017
Datura Ballerina Double Purple Seed Pod
Volunteer Datura
Volunteer Datura, October 18, 2017
Volunteer Datura With Seed Pod
Volunteer Datura Pod
Volunteer Datura Seed Pod
Found a New Monarch Chyrsalis
Monarch Chrysalis Attached to an Angel Wing Begonia Leaf