irruption?

in an earlier than usual insect jaunt in the yard i stopped by the butterfly weed ( asclepias tuberosa ) and found that the monarch butterfly caterpillar population had seemingly expanded overnight...

the dozen plants in the cluster ( remind me to expand this plant's population in my yard ) is now home to five monarch butterfly caterpillars who are getting larger by the day...all good and fine, however i worry about carrying capacity 9 i always worry about carrying capacity...for caterpillars and humans as a species...go ahead...call me neo-malthusian...i will wear it like a badge )...i am pleased to be hosting a population of someday butterflies...i simply hope a dozen plants is enough...we will be keeping an eye on this.