Let me tell you who is really impacting monarchs: wasps. My yard is plentiful with milkweed. I watch the butterflies at all stages. Despite the abundance of egg layers, I find the wasps constantly patrolling for the easy caterpillar meal. This particular caterpillar had just J’ed. I went back to check on it, and it was already being eaten by a wasp. This is not a one-off experience. I’m seeing it A LOT.
Hatch year by plumage and molt, sex unknown
Banded at Zuma Canyon Bird Banding Station for research purposes with federally-issued bird banding permits.
Lamar River Trail