Hiding from the rain

[LevineKA at aol.com]

On 8/26, Wooded edge of large meadow, Winchester, CT.:
2 Common Wood Nymphs
 
A partial search of the meadow milkweed turned up one Monarch  caterpillar.  
There was evidence a larger one had been eating on a nearby  plant.
 
Several plants had the appearance of damage from freshly  hatched Monarch 
caterpillars.  I turned over dozens of promising  leaves and never found any 
young caterpillars. Most of these  plants also housed a small black spider. The  
spider hid in silk-woven leaves, gathered together atop to form a  hidden 
tunnel. The curled leaves were built in a manner similiar  to the Spicebush 
Swallowtail's caterpillar.
 
Ny sister-in-law, in Glastonbury, saw a spider prey on one of  her newly 
hatched Monarch eggs.  
 
I have seen preying mantids eat adult Monarchs without ill  effect.  This is 
the first predator of Monarch larvae I have seen or  heard of.
 
Keith Levine 
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