Observation date: June 24, 2019
Submitted by: BIDEOBOB
Specimen type: Photograph
Observation notes: In Webster NY, I am the volunteer gardener at the Webster Comfort Care Home (a hospice). Besides many flowers, I've developed a "Wild Garden" bed, with Joe Pye weed, Milkweed, Bee Balm, Dame's Rocket, and a large patch of Stinging Nettles (Urtica). Several years ago, I found the Stinging Nettles growing wild in Webster Park (a Monroe County Park). On May 31st 2019, I noticed clusters of caterpillars on the Stinging Nettle (Urtica) plants, and many folded leaves. At present, I've collected some of these caterpillars, and I intend to feed them Stinging Nettles (Urtica). Now, many of these caterpillars have turned into chrysalises. , While the individual white-striped caterpillars have emerged as Milbert's Tortoiseshell butterflies, the leaf-folding caterpillars have emerged as Red Admiral butterflies ---- in the last three days, I've added nine Red Admiral butterflies to my Red Valerian plants (Centranthus ruber) in my home garden.
Status: Temporary Colonist
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: June 27, 2019
Coordinator notes: None.
