Thursday, August 3, 2023

Milkweed Lace

 

A skeletonized milkweed leaf. Those veiny bits might just be too tough for baby caterpillars to chew through?

If you look closely, you can see the little critters responsible for revealing the artwork that is the structure of the leaf

And 8 days later they look like this - the milkweed tussock moth caterpillar

Insects feeding on milkweeds are very specialized, since the milky sap in the leaves is infused with toxic chemicals. Only those who aren't sensitive to these toxins can feed on the foliage.



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