A Baby! Boom!

             This Thursday afternoon we welcomed the arrival of our first Monarch caterpillar of the year. We had almost given up hope, as the aphids ravaged our milkweed and no females were in sight. Then on Sunday last we spotted a female with a broken wing on the lantana not far from the healthiest milkweed. No egg-laying was seen. We worried that she was too weak. But we kept an eye out, and went back to fighting aphids, saving as much milkweed as possible, just in case. Some stems were so overcome, the only course was to trim them away. But on one stem cut accidentally, a familiar white dot was visible. We were pretty sure it was an egg and found a couple more. Cautious, we didn't want to count any monarchs until one emerged. With the one above, nicknamed Laddie, safely hatched, we can break the news and say "Yay!"
            As the moment neared, the white egg turned dark at the top, and ridges formed on the smooth exterior along with a strange little bubble. Not sure if that is normal or just an eccentric flaw. Unfortunately, the birth itself was missed because we made a lasagna for a sick friend. 

          So far the few other eggs we have found remain white. Here's one with an ever-present aphid for scale. Aphids LOVE milkweed, damnit. 

            And to our battered mother Monarch, we say thanks, and that we will do our best to help the next ones along. With the species now on the endangered list, we might even take this first one into a protected environment, to assure that her replacement at least carries on. 
             And the two Black Swallowtail chrysalises continue to appear sound, and we will be monitoring them over the weekend as well. Watch this space.