Monarch butterfly caterpillars

The  rose flowers of Swamp Milkweed Asclepias incarnata plants are blooming in several places along the shore around the pond.  Actually, the flowers can vary in color from soft mauve to dusty pink to soft crimson violet.  This milkweed attracts a profusion of butterflies and other pollinators who lap up its nectar.  The Monarch butterfly Danaus plexippus uses the milkweed as its host plant. A host plant is where the butterfly will lays its eggs exclusively, because the larvae that hatch will have a ready supply of the only plant they will eat.  This Swamp Milkweed had two different size caterpillars feasting on leaves.  (In these photos, golden aphids share the sweetness of the plant.)

Tussock Moth Caterpillars on milkweed

nectar

Monarchs are finding the
Joe Pye Weed and milkweed plants in the yard. 
This one even found the sweet nectar in the hummingbird feeder.

milkweed munchers

One leaf of Common Milkweed was being devoured by both a caterpillar and a beetle.  I wonder if either knew the other was there?

caterpillar

My knowledge of garden pests seems to have evaporated over winter . . .
This 2-inch-long small green worm with a silvery stripe would usually be difficult to detect on green plants, but this one was on a native Penstemon plant with rich maroon stems and leaves.
Since there is so much concern about loss of butterflies and bees, I want to encourage any that I can.
To my chagrin, I realized it is a cabbage looper! 
This caterpillar is the larval form of the white cabbage moth, Trichoplusia ni.  They love plants in the veggie garden -- broccoli, cauliflower, kohlrabi, cabbage, collard greens, potato, tomato, spinach, and cucumbers.  They typically eat holes in the leaves and hide out on the bottom side of the foliage.