Houston Caterpillars disappeared3-27

[fsklar]

I counted 5 caterpillars in varing sizes a few days ago. However they have now eaten all the leaves on the several milkweed plants I have and have now disappeared. Will they hide dormant in nearby shrubs until the leaves re-appear in a couple of weeks?

[Mona Miller]

http://www.monarchwatch.org/biology/cycle1.htm
Generally after they reach the 5th instar they will go off the plant and find a place to pupate (attach). There they will turn into a chrysalis. Depending upon how warm it is, they will emerge in 10-14 days.

There's move info on the above website.

If there was not enough milkweed for them to finish their cycle, they may pupate anyway, but the butterflies will be very small.