Milkweed and Monarch Butterfly Mania

Defoliate

Sometimes the caterpillars are so hungry they eat all the leaves off the plant. We say the plant has been defoliated.

When an insect eats all the leaves, the gardener is usually pretty unhappy. They might choose to spray poisons to kill the "pest" insects.

Defoliation of these milkweed plants is a good sign to me.

I think this caterpillar has finished all her dinner and should get dessert!

Definitions:

defoliate - To deprive (a plant, tree, or forest) of leaves.

foliage - Plant leaves, especially tree leaves, considered as a group.

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defolited (leafless) milkweed plant

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