Don’t even touch these if you notice them on your plants (and you’ll DEFINITELY see them, I promise). My neighbor had no idea about these, and thank God I told her. I’ll fully explain
Recently, I discovered that the strange black geometric patterns on my garden leaves were eggs of the Mourning Cloak butterfly (Nymphalis antiopa). Initially resembling an alien infestation, these black lace-like clusters are actually beneficial. After hatching, the black caterpillars with white spots feed on trees like willows and poplars, not on garden plants, so they pose little threat to your flowers or vegetables. The caterpillars eventually transform into butterflies with dark wings edged in yellow and blue spots. These butterflies hibernate in winter and are among the first to appear in spring. If you spot their eggs or caterpillars, it’s best to leave them undisturbed as they help maintain a healthy ecosystem and offer a fascinating look at nature’s lifecycle.
