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This has been a TERRIFIC year for Monarch butterflies!! We had about 30 caterpillars feeding on the milkweed several weeks ago, and another set of at least 12 is getting started!!

 

Wanted to share some photos with you -- just in case you have never seen the full life-cycle of the Monarch. This butterfly relies on Milkweed for food & to lay eggs. It is becoming endangered because people keep cutting down the milkweed plants this butterfly uses. The slides show is set at 10 seconds per slide, and there are captions at the bottom of each picture to help identify what you are seeing. Enjoy!

 

Want to know more?? Follow one of these links:

Monarch Watch Organization

National Wildlife Federation: Monarchs

Create Habitat for Monarchs

 

  • new Monarch caterpillar

  • new Monarch caterpillar up close

  • Full-size Monarch caterpillar

  • 2 cocoons on sunflower feeder
    new one is green; dark one several days older

  • First butterfly ecloses (emerges)
    Other cocoon still waiting

  • Cocoon changing color

  • Cocoon transparent: ready to emerge (or eclose)

  • newly emerged Monarch; notice wings are wrinkly and wet

  • Mid-dry stage; wings longer

  • Monarch finished drying

  • Monarch released in Cara Cara orange tree

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