This is one of the butterfly parasites--the tachnid fly.  It lays its egg inside a caterpillar and the larva slowly eats the poor caterpillar from the inside out.
Note red eyes and prickly back.

My last 7 crysalises are awaiting good weather before the butterflies eclose (emerge).  Meanwhile, this wooly bear caterpillar found a home in my garage after munching a final meal!

Busy summer! I photographed all of these in the garden:

 Hairstreak

 Red Admiral

 mourning cloak

 painted lady

male tiger swallowtail

female black swallowtail

 female tiger swallowtail

 clouded sulphur

 monarch!

 Great Spangled Fritillary

 Monarch

Spring 2018

After a long, bitter winter, I was surprised to see that my milkweed has sprouted quickly with the warmer May weather.  Excited to welcome back the monarchs!