Milkweed - Part 1

A patch of milkweed on our property is starting to blossom and insects of all type are swarming around as the flowers bloom.



It's easy to spot the many Great Spangled Fritillary (Speyeria cybele) butteries on the milkweed. A dozen or more Fritillary butterflies were activity working on this patch. When most people think of butterflies and milkweed, they think of Monarch butterflies. Since the Monarchs migrate up from the south each year they won't be here until later in the summer.



Along with the butteries there were countless bees buzzing around the milkweed flowers.



Not all insects are after the milkweed flowers, the Swamp Milkweed Leaf Beetle (Labidomera clivicollis) eat the leaves of the milkweed.