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Cheryl
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| Posted: Oct 05 2006 at 7:20am | IP Logged
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Does anyone want to take a look at these pictures on my blog and tell me:
1. Is this a monarch butterfly?
and 2. What kind of caterpillar is this?
I looked at many caterpillars online and haven't found it yet. Can you tell I'm new at this? Do you have any suggestions for easy identification?
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Cheryl
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Mom to Matthew 13, Joseph 11, Sarah 10, Rachel 6, Hannah almost 4 and Mary 1
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Wendi DeGrandpr
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| Posted: Oct 05 2006 at 7:46am | IP Logged
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Cheryl - the butterfly is a monarch. They are abundant this year - the migration has been spectacular!! 
The caterpillar I am much less sure about. Based on my book I think it may be a type of tiger moth cat - there are many and it seems to have similar characteristics but I didn't find an "exact match". Maybe someone else will have more info. I will be very interested to know.
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Wendi
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Marjorie
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| Posted: Oct 05 2006 at 12:06pm | IP Logged
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Cheryl,
I think that Wendi is right, it looks like the yellow bear - Virginian Tiger moth. We just purchased Caterpillars of Eastern North America and would highly recommend it. It is definitely the best guide of this type we have found.
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Marjorie
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Wendi DeGrandpr
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| Posted: Oct 05 2006 at 12:15pm | IP Logged
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Yippee Marjorie - that is the book I have too and we love it!!! I second the recommendation on the book!!! I actually picked that exact caterpillar but was very unsure because the color seemed a bit. However, even the wooly bears vary so much in their color - I was hoping it was the same.
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Wendi
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Cheryl
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| Posted: Oct 05 2006 at 1:23pm | IP Logged
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Thank you for your help ladies!! It does look like the yellow bear. I'll let you know if I see what it turns into. I'm going to put that book on my wishlist!
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Cheryl
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ladybugs
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Marjorie and Wendi,
How do you tell the difference between the viceroy butterfly and the monarch?
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Maria P
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Wendi DeGrandpr
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| Posted: Oct 06 2006 at 6:31am | IP Logged
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Maria - it can be very hard to tell the difference - especially when they are just flying by.
The viceroy has a black band (stripe) across its lower wings which the monarch does not. Also, the pattern of white spots on the edges of the wings is very different. The monarch has many smaller spots all along the edge of the wing while the viceroy has a more "orderly" one after the other line of spots along the wing edge. If you don't have a butterfly book you can look up pictures on the butterflywebsite.com. (Sorry but I still don't know how to link)
This was an important lesson for our kids to learn so they don't tag the wrong butterfly.
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Wendi
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ladybugs
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Thank you!
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Maria P
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ladybugs
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| Posted: Oct 06 2006 at 10:47pm | IP Logged
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Hi.....
I have another question....
since the orange of the monarch is poisonous to predators is the orange of the viceroy poisonous as well?
Thanks in advance!
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Maria P
My etsy store - all proceeds go to help my fencing daughters!
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Wendi DeGrandpr
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| Posted: Oct 09 2006 at 7:01am | IP Logged
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The viceroy is not poisonous. It's colors / pattern mimic the monarch and protect it from preditors who would mistake it for a monarch.
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Wendi
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MacBeth
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| Posted: Oct 09 2006 at 9:39pm | IP Logged
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Just wanted to add that we have seen soooo many monarchs this fall! And they are all headed south  .
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MacBeth in NY
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Wendi DeGrandpr
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| Posted: Oct 10 2006 at 6:19am | IP Logged
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It is a huge year for monarchs!!!!  They (they people at monarch watch and cape may) are saying that there haven't been this many monarch in the north east for possibly the past 30 to 40 years.
Here's to hoping that large numbers make it to Mexico to the overwintering spot!!!!!!!!!!
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Wendi
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Topic: caterpillar identification
