Various caterpillars are showing up all over the Preserve. On the fringes where Desert Milkweed might be growing, you can find Queen Caterpillars. I have some at my house and have been fortunate to witness their entire cycle! The images below show the caterpillar eating and then become a Chrysalis and finally emerging! The two images on the right are linked to my videos of these events. Click images below to see full size.

 

 

 

 

 

Pictured below is another caterpillar that has come by the thousands to our area. In fact, there are so many, they’ve made local news several times! It is a White Lined Sphinx Moth caterpillar. I’m guessing all the wonderful rain we’ve had has produced a banner crop of plants for them. Click images below to see full size.

 

 

 

 

 

Then there is Five-Spotted Sphinx Moth caterpillar which you might see in the Preserve if you come across Datura. It is a plant with enormous white blooms you can’t miss. This caterpillar loves to eat Datura so if you come across this plant, look under the leaves but be careful not to touch the plant and get any oils on your hands because as all parts of this plant are poisonous. I don’t have a photo of the moth but here are a couple of photos of the caterpillar on some Datura. Click images below to see full size.

 

 

 

 

 

The last caterpillar you might come across is the Pipevine Swallowtail. Itwill be the most difficult to spot because it only eats the Pipevine plant also known as Dutchman’s Pipe and this plant is VERY difficult to find. I’ve seen the caterpillars at Boyce Thompson Arboretum but thanks to our Botanist expert, Steve Jones, I have now seen them in the Preserve. Below is a caterpillar and a photo of the Butterfly. Click images below to see full size.