Don’t touch these if you see them on your plants
Do you know where you can always find me? In my garden. I love gardening. It’s incredibly fulfilling to care for plants, watch them grow, and see your hard work come to life. But let’s be honest – it can be pretty tough. One of the biggest challenges is dealing with pests. Sometimes you’re not even sure which pests are beneficial and which ones are destroying everything you’ve worked so hard for.
Recently, I came across a photo on social media that perfectly illustrates this confusion. When I first saw it, I freaked out. The photo showed a leaf covered in these tiny, intricate, black geometric shapes. At first glance, it looked like the leaf was covered in some kind of alien lattice or maybe even a strange disease. Many people, including myself, wondered what it could be.
After some research, I found out that these strange patterns are actually eggs of the Nymphalis Antiopa butterfly. If you are unfamiliar with this species, let me introduce it to you. The Nymphalis Antiopa, also known as the Mourning Cloak butterfly, is a fascinating insect with a unique life cycle and some pretty interesting habits.
First, let’s talk about the eggs. The photo I saw was a close-up of these eggs on a leaf. They almost look like a delicate black lace spread across the surface. It’s really quite beautiful once you get over the initial shock. The eggs are laid in clusters and each tiny egg is a perfect little geometric wonder. When I first saw it, I thought, “This is either going to be really good for my garden or really bad.”
The good news is that the Nymphalis Antiopa butterfly is actually quite useful. The larvae, or caterpillars, feed on leaves, but usually prefer trees and shrubs like willows, elms, and poplars, so if you have a garden full of flowers and vegetables, you’re probably safe. In fact, these butterflies can be quite helpful, as they also feed on rotting fruit and help with the decomposition process.
ADVERTISEMENT
