First Instar -- caterpillar develops in egg and hatches in three days.
First Instar -- caterpillar's first meal is the protein-rich egg shell.
First instar one day after hatching.
Second Instar
Third Instar
Fourth Instar
Fifth Instar
Preparing to pupate -- hanging in "J-shape" for approximately 24 hours.
Skin splits to reveal forming chrysalis.
Wiggling helps rid chrysalis of old skin.
Chrysalis, final form
24 hours prior to eclosure (emergence), chrysalis becomes transparent to reveal the
butterfly within.
Eclosure begins
Butterfly is free of chrysalis with shriveled wings.
Wings are expanded as fluid (hemolymph) is pumped through the veins from the
turgid abdomen.
Wings expanding
Wings fully expanded. Butterfly will hang for several hours to harden off
delicate wings before flight.
Newly eclosed male Monarch
Calvert County
8/25/05
(click photo to enlarge)
Notes: Sexes similar. Males are brighter orange than females with black
oval scent patches on upper hindwings. Occurrence: common Range: entire state Flight: May - mid-October Larval hostplants: milkweeds Link to more information
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