The Milkweed pods are bursting! The autumn wind blew and cooler air entered the prairie late yesterday providing the perfect conditions to explode ripened pods.
- Burst Butterfly Milkweed Pods copyright 2011 Pamela Breitberg
Butterfly Milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa interior) pods are smooth and brown in contrast to the Common Prairie Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) pods. Note that the Common Milkweed pod is attended to by a Large Milkweed Bug (Oncopeltus fasciatus) . Weather has been warm enough that there are many insects instinctively feasting in anticipation of winter’s approach.
