For Serious Naturalists, not Dumbasses

Today, we went and visited a great big patch of Anisicanthus wrightii at a place where that species has been increasing over time. Now that big patch harbors a great many scarlet patch butterflies including caterpillars. So three of those caterpillars got moved to the CB to see what they'd do here. We have lots of A. wrightii too so they should do OK unless something eats them. Historically, there was little to no A. wrightii in these parts and little to no scarlet patches either. But with the increasing popularity of A. wrightii as a parking lot shrub, especially at Home Depots, and the opportunity everyone has to make cuttings from the Home Depot A. wrightii, no doubt those A. wrightii are increasing everywhere by leaps and bounds. Hence the arrival of the scarlet patch which habitates on the A. wrightii.

Here's an old female laying eggs. See how beat up her wings are.

And here's a scarlet patch that didn't watch out. That spider is stealthy. Compare its abdomen to the Anisicanthus buds.