Comments for Catepillar-yellow and black (American lady butterfly caterpillar)
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Comments for
Catepillar-yellow and black (American lady butterfly caterpillar)

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Food
by: Shannon

I think they should be ok. I started a butterfly garden last year and have quite a few established flower gardens around the house and yard.

American lady butterfly caterpillar
by: Moni

Great!
Do you have flowers that the butterflies will get nectar from?

Thank you!
by: Shannon

I checked out your link and that is definitely it! I'm so excited to watch this tranformation.

Thanks again for the help.

American lady butterfly caterpillar
by: Moni

Shannon,
It looks like you have an American lady butterfly caterpillar. The larva like to feed on plants in the aster family as well as Everlastings(your licorice plant :-) ). You are fortunate to be growing one of the host plants for the caterpillar stage of that beautiful butterfly. It would be great if you can let them feed and turn into butterflies.
The plants are tough, strong growers so it will grow out of some feeding in no time as long as there is some foliage left.
It is not always easy to let our plants get some damage, but on the other hand if you let them have a little of the plant, the plant will be bushier, you will have beautiful butterflies to watch, and the life cycle of nature is happening in your garden. What a gem!
Here is a site to see other caterpillars like yours and some info. Enjoy watching nature develop in your own yard!!
http://bugguide.net/node/view/488

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