there's hardly any black on them

However, it does look like one...but boy the markings are almost non-existent.

This is more typical (and a much clearer photograph):
{{gwi:527708}}

This post was edited by dbarron on Thu, Aug 28, 14 at 16:55

I've had twelve normal- looking cats and I found these two away from the others on tropical milkweed. The others have all been on swamp milkweed. Do you think it is a monarch?

Yes, it is a Monarch. Once in a while I've had some that are quite pale, like that, or sometimes quite dark, with mostly black. They don't look noticeably different when they emerge.

Martha

I agree with Martha. Color intensity varies in cats of all kinds and can even be induced by temperature!

Disregard this part of the message if you are 100% sure that your pale cats are feeding on tropical milkweed (asclepias curassavica) and NOT asclepias tuberosa:

Asclepias tuberosa has a lower amount of cardiac glycosides than it's true tropical (asclepias curassavica) counterpart, which can result in pale/muted color variations.

Linked photo of asclepias tuberosa.

Here is a link that might be useful: NOT tropical milkweed

Here is a link to what TRUE tropical milkweed looks like. I do want to emphasize that it is very easy to mistake the two for each other, as asclepias tuberosa is often mislabeled as 'butterfly weed' and 'tropical milkweed'.

Here is a link that might be useful: {{gwi:527705}}

Thanks for the info guys! It is tropical for sure.

I do have tuberosa as well and have yet to see a monarch use it as a host, only the swamp and tropical

So, strangely enough after one night of eating the swamp milkweed rather than the tropical they look normal...

maybe it's just better for the digestion (lol)