They’ve Hatched!

They've hatched!

All 11 eggs laid on Friday hatched by this afternoon. After eating their eggshells, the very tiny caterpillars begin eating milkweed, the monarch butterfly's host plant. The babies will grow quickly, and go through five molts or instars before getting ready to pupate.

Look how tiny a newly hatched caterpillar is!

You can be sure that few critters will receive the amount of care and attention that these little ones will. It is my responsibility to do everything in my power to see them grow up healthy and transform into butterflies that will make the migration south.

Who knows how many offspring they may eventually be responsible for. It is amazing that I just happened to be in my garden at the precise moment to see the female, Fiona, laying eggs. Perhaps her great great grandchildren will number in the hundreds or even thousands!