Munching on a milkweed pod in Big Meadows, Shenandoah National Park. Isn't it a bit late for this stage of a monarch's reproduction? Snow in another month isn't unheard of here high in the Blue Ridge mountains. This critter's got a way to go before becoming a butterfly.
In case you're wondering, its head is toward the bottom of the picture.
October snow in Shenandoah National Park - http://www.pbase.com/ed_k/image/51374216