Pale caterpillar

[lib66laur]

I have heard that one of the results of OE is pale-colored Monarchs. I have not seen this for myself; any time I've had an OE victim it emerged with a deformed wing. Anyway, for the 2nd time this year I've collected a small cat that is much paler than the norm. (the first one died but that may have been a result of pesticide sprayed on a corn field. I've had a simply disastrous butterfly year, in part, because of that.) Are there any opinions out there on my pale cat? I'm keeping him separated for the others and watching closely.

[Mona Miller]

http://www.mymonarchguide.com/2007/11/o ... llars.html
This is what one person found to be true. The caterpillars take on a dirty quality.

Light color could mean too much heat, genetic problems, or as you say disease. The only way to find out is to test if the butterfly emerges.

[lib66laur]

Thanks Mona, will continue to isolate, and watch. We are at the end of an intense heat wave so I guess it's best to wait and see. Though I am ready to give up because of the pesticide issue. (yeah, I say that, bu I never will, just do my best to move the few that I do find onto non-treated plants!)

[Mona Miller]

My next door neighbor has Trugreen. They are spraying 4 types of insecticide and 2 kinds of weed killers. I got my USDA county pesticide compliance person to help a bit. They are supposed to notify me before they spray and tell me what they are spraying. Luckily, I have a 6 ft. fence on part of my backyard. So far, I've had a survey done and found out that the neighbor has been spraying part of my yard since I moved in. Now, TruGreen can't trump through my yard with their spreaders and hoses. Every now and then they would kill my Cosmos at my mailbox.

What are your state laws? Someone told me that if the wind is blowing 5 mph that farmers can't apply pesticides in VA. Knowledge is power.

[blazing star]

Like Mona says, maybe if you call them, they can tell you when they're spraying so that you can cover a few plants. I do this when the mosquito truck comes around. If you find out "what" they are spraying you can look up the life span of the toxin. For instance, I know Anvil breaks down quickly enough in sun that I can use those leaves in 25 hours time. I haven't lost any cats to pesticides since that time.

[lib66laur]

So, the pale guy died. Whether he was diseased, or I didn't get him on non-pesticide-treated milkweed soon enough, I'll never know.

[Mona Miller]

Sorry to hear that. I hate losing caterpillars.