Hatchings 2 & 3

My other two Monarchs hatched in my kitchen. I had been watching them all morning, stepped out of the room for fifteen minutes to trim a quilt, and the deed was done. It must take fourteen minutes for the butterfly to split the chrysalis and emerge.
Look carefully and you can see the Monarch's colorful wing folded inside the chrysalis.

A liquid stored within the butterfly's abdomen is pumped through the wings, which makes them straighten and become rigid. This usually takes at least one full day.

Do you see the little ovals on the butterfly's bottom hind wings? This indicates it's male. Two of the Monarchs were male, one female.


If anyone would like Butterfly Weed seed to attract Monarchs to your home, let me know. It's fun for both Momma and the children to see the life cycle in one's own yard.