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!

Released my final butterfly on Saturday, Oct 21.  He was beautiful and one I found as a 4th instar on my milkweed.  He only spent one day eating and then formed his crysalis.  So glad he emerged healthy and strong!  He picked a lovely sunny day to eclose and joined several other monarchs migrating through the garden!

I tagged 16 butterflies this summer.  I hope they make it to Mexico!

A gorgeous October day, warmer than usual and filled with butterflies!  Here's one I have only seen in a book:

a buckeye!!

My favorite!