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Vieques Monarch Larvae

Fifth instar monarch larva feeding on Calotropis procera. Note the black banding characteristic of this monarch population:

Foliar damage by monarch larvae to leaves of Calotropis procera. I counted 9-10 larvae. How many do you see?:

"Trenching" by 2nd instar monarch larvae to cut off the flow of latex into feeding area:

Calotropis procera flower:

Calotropis procera in fruit and flower:

Variation in the color and banding of fifth instar larvae from Vieques, Puerto Rico:

Banding pattern of a typical fifth instar monarch larva from the eastern North American migratory population.

Photos taken by Ray Cordero and Chip Taylor.