Organic Landscapes - Wildlife and Landscape Photography

Monarch Caterpillar 1st Instar * Danaus plexippus

Finding the beauty around us

Monarch 1st Instar Caterpillar

Monarch 1st Instar Caterpillar on Milkweed

Original image 30.4 Mp - Cropped image 1332 x 978

Follow the Monarch Life Cycle - The 1st instar of the Monarch Caterpillar is easy to miss. They are small. Often the frass, small dark pellets, or a small wound on a milkweed leaf are the easiest to spot. Then you will often find the Caterpillar nearby. This stage usually lasts a week or less. Wholesale body changes happen as the Caterpillars go from one stage to the next. Cat 2 Monarch Caterpillars get antennae and a lot more sensory skills.

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Photographs by Martin Fletcher

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Last modified: August 9, 2025