Roaming with Risa

Is this hornworm dressed as sheep? Nope, it's being eaten alive by wasp babies! A parasitic wasp lays her eggs under the hornworm's skin, as the eggs hatch the babies feed on the caterpillar. Eventually they bust out of their home/snack and fly away. Pretty gruesome huh? The owner of this tomatoe plant appreciates something stopping the tomato pest. Sometimes we do want wasps in our gardens!

Did you know many species of milkweed exist? We focus on common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) since it's one of the best for monarchs. But, don't limit your milkweed gardens! Try swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) in wet areas or orange milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa) for a shorter variety, or any of the other 70 species of North America's native milkweeds.

Discover the native ones in your area, many are endangered and could use help.