Early female Monarch sightings but....

[mommalepapillon]

Well on the 4th of July here in Sutton NH, I had a beautiful female flit and flee around my flowers and milkweed garden... then no sightings for a week or so then back again .. more attention to the milkweed so I am hopeful that they are here when I am not!! Was pleased to have this sighting as I have had none in 3 years... after a bumper crop in prior years. Then this morning I went out and about 20 Tussock Moth Cats were devouring one of my plants!! Relocated them...but still missing my big fat beautiful Monarch Cat...

[mommalepapillon]

Success! While weeding the vegetable garden, saw three cats in 3 separate stages including my big "Fat Cat" and a Chrysalis!! Made my day ....so now that's 5 ... much better than none for the past three years!!

[mommalepapillon]

Not sure if these bugs are bad for the monarchs?

[Mona Miller]

They almost look like nymphs of the Brown Mamorated Stink Bug.

http://bugguide.net/node/view/9806

It these are the little buggers, they are definitely bad. I thought they only ate plants, but caught them attacking a Crescent chrysalis today. Every one of them got squished. Bad, bad, little buggers.

[mommalepapillon]

Oh NOoo i will hunt them down tomorrow!! Thanks for the info...