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From Caterpillar to Chrysalis

This first series of photos shows a monarch caterpillar forming its chrysalis. The actual process of forming the chrysalis takes several hours from the time the caterpillar begins to hang in the J formation. It will remain in this chrysalis for roughly two weeks, with the exact length of time depending on the air temperature.

hanging in J formation

 ready to change skin beginning to split
skin splitting pupa emerging pupa emerging
pupa emerging working out of skin wiggling to attach cremaster to pad
wiggling to attach cremaster to silken pad new pupa finished chrysalis

From Chrysalis to Butterfly

This second set of photos shows a monarch emerging from its chrysalis.  During this time, the butterfly is very vulnerable.  Notice how tiny its wings are when it first emerges. The plump abdomen is full of fluid which is quickly pumped into the veins of the tiny wings.  The butterfly must hang vertically and allow its wings to expand fully before it is able to fly.  If the wings do not expand fully, they will dry crumpled and will remain that way, rendering the butterfly helpless to escape predators or find food.
black chrysalis emerging plump abdomen exposed
crawling to hang crawling to hang
forked proboscis fully expanded wings

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