Signed in as:
filler@godaddy.com
Hey Hon! Welcome!
Mingle in the Monarchs
There's much to see here. So, take your time, look around, and learn all there is to know about Monarch butterflies. We hope you enjoy our site, click on links and take a moment to drop us a line.
The Monarch Butterfly
The same as all creation, a butterfly starts with a viable egg. A female butterfly sporadically lays singular eggs on the bottom of milkweed leaves. Once the caterpillar emerges they will consume their egg for nutrients.
After consuming their egg caterpillars are considered to be in their 1st instar.
As the caterpillars grow they will molt. This is an instar.
The entire caterpillar life they will consume milk weed and molt until they form into a chrysalis.
As you can see here, Their suction feet plant for stability and the caterpillar continues to walk out of its previous skin.
Molting includes their face too. This is a cat in their 3rd or 4th instar leaving behind a faceplate.
They leave behind their previous body.
An adult cat found on my milkweed.
"Cat" face.
Before chrysalis the caterpillar will "J". They go into a "J" form and from there head into their metamorphosis to become a butterfly.
My first two butterflies I released.
Here it shows all 4 stages within the life cycle of a butterfly.
Egg-Pupa-Chrysalis-Butterfly