Black Wednesday

Shortly after moving into our new home we purchased several plants to make up a tiny butterfly garden.  While the butterflies were attracted to the garden, I never saw any caterpillars on our milkweed plant.  Then one day I looked and saw babies!!  So many babies.  I counted around ten of them ~ they were teeny tiny and adorable.  I started photographing them, but as time went on there were fewer and fewer.  I figured it was bound to happen that not all of them would make it to the chrysalis stage, but I was pretty certain at least a few would, right?  I had about 3 or 4 healthy, strong, and big caterpillars up until two days ago.  

Monarch Caterpillar

ISO 100 ~ 60mm ~ f/5.6 ~ 1/125 sec

© Corrie M Avila

Last night I only could find one (the biggest).  I started wondering if maybe the small garden lizards were eating them.  When I researched it, basically the consensus was that it was possible the lizards were eating them, but not likely.  I was stumped.  I looked around to see if maybe a few had already pupated, but didn't see anything.

This morning I went out and said hello to my hungry hungry caterpillar.  M and I watched him as he was eating breakfast.  

"M" watching Caterpillar

ISO 200 ~ 28mm ~ f/5.6 ~ 1/800 sec

© Corrie M Avila

When I came home from running errands, I was HORRIFIED to see a red wasp EATING my caterpillar.  The poor guy didn't have a chance...  This was the last photo I was able to take of him before his death.

Hungry Caterpillar

ISO 500 ~ 60mm ~ f/5.6 ~ 1/60 sec

© Corrie M Avila

M ran into the house and and brought back a fly swatter.  All I could do was stand there horrified that my little leaf muncher was gone.

If this wasn't bad enough, when I was leaving to go pick up G from school, I stepped on (and killed) a baby lizard.

It is a very sad day here.  We are grieving on this Black Wednesday.  RIP little guy <3

Capturing the Moment,

Corrie <3