Growing With Science Blog

Isn’t it interesting how plants and insects go together? We have the queen butterflies (from last week) in our yard because we have desert milkweed plants. This year we planted a birdhouse gourd,

and this year we have…

budworms. Budworms are the caterpillar of a moth. They specialize in eating flower buds, although they will also nibble leaves. This one is feeding upside down, with its head in the bud.

Here I opened the bud.Can you see the tiny brown dots in a row along its sides? Those are the openings called spiracles. Insects get their oxygen through those openings.

Budworms come in a variety of colors, including bright pink. The moths are drab with a faint olive green cast.

I wonder what we should plant next.

Do you have plants that attract a particular insect in your yard?

Can’t get any fresher than this:  the seeds are still on the plant.

Any guesses what plant these prickly seeds might grow into?

Edit:  The answer is now posted.

Those rather plain mystery seeds from last week grow into a plant with spectacular flowers.

The Datura (also called jimsom weed and other common names) grows wild here in Arizona. You can often see it along the roadsides.

Although beautiful, Datura plants are members of the nightshade family, and contain poisonous chemicals.

The gorgeous white, tubular flowers are open mostly at night. Does this give you any ideas as to what might pollinate it?