Black Swallowtail Caterpillar

Just minding its own business is this Black Swallowtail Caterpillar. This is the second stage of its development. He is resting in the sun waiting to turn into a beautiful butterfly after some time in his catalyst.

This butterfly is also the state butterfly of Oklahoma, and there are several related and similar species roaming the Ozarks and Missouri in general.

Scientific name:
Papilio polyxenes

Rose Pink

Light, airy, and pretty, the Rose Pink is common across the United States, and lives in wooded areas and alongside fields.

You might pass this by without a second thought. However, if you look at it closely, it is a complex flower in and of itself. It is thin, but it supports itself well, and the flowers are striking among the green.

Scientific name:
Sabatia angularis

Southern Green Stink Bug

Pew. This post stinks.
Today, I give you a shot of a fourth instar nymph of the Southern Green Stink Bug. From what I gather, an instar is a stage of development for these little guys. I found it on a wild cherry tree which had been toppled over during the ice storms.

Scientific name:
Nezara viridula

Correction:
In an earlier post, I misidentified a plant as Common Milkweed. The plant is commonly known as Purple Milkweed, but its true Scientific name is Asclepias purpurascens. I'll give a big thanks to the Anonymous poster who helped correct the mistake.

To comment on the mistake, this is an example of long-embedded misconceptions being overturned. Some time ago a teacher of mine cultivated Milkweed to raise Monarch Butterflies. Her Common Milkweed was very similar to the specimen shown in my pictures, which goes to show how color can throw off an identification. Usually, Purple Milkweed is darker in nature, and it has rougher leaves. But, sometimes it does not, as is this case. Common Milkweed can look similar in some circumstances where the plant has not fully developed. And, as a side note for its commonality, Purple Milkweed is widespread here in Missouri, but in other states, such as those in the Northeast, it is quite endangered. However, efforts to keep it thriving have been taken up by university programs.

Thank you again, and I hope this adds to the discussion.