Still finding monarch caterpillars

Now that we have released the last of our monarch butterflies, raised from eggs or tiny caterpillars, it's so surprising to still find a few more in the backyard.

This chubby one grew quickly.

Within a week it was in fifth instar, and now disappeared.

It probably is a chrysalis, hanging somewhere safe.

When I last checked this morning, this caterpillar was under the same leaf, probably in the process of going into its fourth instar.

Although our daytime temperatures are still quite mild, in the low 70's Fahrenheit, it can get chilly at night, in the 50's.

Hopefully this caterpillar, too, will develop into a lovely, healthy monarch.