First Queen Cat Ever Seen

[sbannister]

We have Monarchs year round, pretty much, but to my surprise I found a tiny Queen caterpillar on Saturday. I know we are within their range but this is my first one in 3 years of growing milkweed.

It has been exceptionally hot and dry here for the last 3 weeks, Kenner, in S.E. Louisiana.

Should I report this elsewhere?

Thanks!

[Mona Miller]

http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/spec ... *Louisiana
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If it is not, you can report it:
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[texas butterfly]

It is exceptionally dry here in the Houston area.

It was exciting seeing the Queen, but I'm thinking it is common in the Houston area.

It will be neat seeing both of the cats growing up and releasing them.

My queen female looked beat up. Part of her left wing was missing, but she was still flying gracefully.

I'm wondering what hurricane IKE stirred up.

I've only seen two hummingbirds for the month of June. But, this may not be unusual for me. I should have lots more hummers in July, Aug and Sept. Hopefully IKE did not change their migration path and hopefully we didn't lose that many hummers.

[texas butterfly]

I was just reading in one of my regional butterfly books that Queens are common sometimes in the Houston area and other times they are sporadic.

Source: Butterflies of Houston & Southest Texas

[Mona Miller]

Dr. Lincoln Brower had a theory that the reason the Monarch pushes North is to get out of the territory of the Queen. Less competition. The Queen lays more eggs and is a predator of the eggs of the Monarch.

[texas butterfly]

That would support the reason the Monarch butterfly was chasing the Queen.

Later, the queen just hung around til Monarch was gone and laid her eggs. It wasn't till I was watching her and taking lots of photos did it seem this is not a Monarch.

The Monarch left, but it seemed the Monarch had won the chasing battle.

It might be supported to if I find my early eggs were Monarch and then later the ratio turns into more Queen eggs. Ths the Monarch has moved further north to lay her eggs.