Yesterday Monarch #1 emerged, filled its wings, patiently waited for them to stiffen, then flew off for her Great Mexican Adventure!
Today? FIVE more emerged and are either already gone or just resting up for a bit more and will be heading out. Once their wings had stiffened I carefully had them climb on my hand so I could safely move them to a bush or branch outside, resting up before they head out. Here’s two of them on my hand!
To say I was fascinated is a bit of an understatement. Every year I think, “Oh, man, they didn’t eat enough. There’s no way a normal sized Monarch is going to come out of that chrysalis!”
But they do. Nature’s origami, crammed into that little glittering packet, slowly morphing from this gaudily striped worm to this glorious adult.
You can see that these are both males with the small dark splotch on their hind wings.
Oh, and if you want to see them emerge from their chrysalis, stare at them intently for hours. Don’t leave to get a drink, hit the loo, anything, because when they come out it is quick – seconds. I only saw the last half of one of the emergences of the six that have come out so far. (Three more likely tomorrow or the next day so I have a few more chances.)
And one more pic: leaves after swapping them out. This is after just 24 hours and wasn’t even from a full-sized caterpillar (5th instar):
To say this has all be rewarding, especially since nearly all of the eggs were rescues (were going to get mowed over), is tremendously satisfying.
Plant milkweed, plant pollinator-friendly natives, and enjoy the show!
