Instars Update

There is good news and bad news with my little Monarch caterpillars.  I had many of the eggs hatch over the last week.  Unfortunately, many of the tiny caterpillars have disappeared.  I am not sure why.  I did bring two potted milkweed plants into the house.  There were three instars (that is what they are called between the molting stages that they are now going through) on one plant and two on the other.

 One died the first day but the others continue to eat and grow.
Yesterday I found one crawling around on my stove top!  I was just about to turn on the gas flame when I notice the tiny guy.  He must have been very hungry because the plant was sitting on my stove the day before until I moved it into the window.  So I now know that some just fall off of the plant.  I am happy to report that he is back on a milkweed and eating happily.