The Monarch Butterfly, King of the Butterflies...

About The Monarch Butterfly

Did you know that the brightly coloured Monarch Butterfly Caterpillar (Danaus plexippus) is toxic? And so are the juices of their host plant, the Swamp Milkweed. The bright coloring is a warning to predators that it is poisonous.

For years I had been curious very curious about the entire development process of the Monarch Butterfly, ergo I decided to plant the host Swamp Milkweed and see what happens. I was warned by fellow gardeners that the caterpillar will destroy, eat up the entire plant...making it look half dead. Those comments did not discourage me.

Low and behold, within a month of planting the Milkweed I noticed 2 caterpillars munching away at the leaves. Sad to say, but I did not notice the white coloured eggs, which the female lays on the underside of the leaves.

Not too long after that visit to the plant, I noticed another 8 on various leaves. Such a silly thing, but I sat down on one of my larger boulders by the waterfall and watched the caterpillars eat their way up and down the leaves. It was fascinating!

Take a peek at the video below. I couldn't resist recording a short video.

Development of Stages

Monarchs have a life cycle with four stages of development: egg, caterpillar, pupa (chrysalis) and finally the adult stage. Most of us remember our school days and using the phrase metamorphosis.

The Monarch caterpillar sheds it's skin 5 times prior to developing into the chrysalis. In the above image, you can see the shedded skin on the leaf of the Swamp Milkweed plant. As the caterpillars eat, they outgrow their skin, ergo the shedding process.

Next, the caterpillar uses a special gland in it's mouth to weave a small silk button underneath the leaf. It then attaches itself, tail end to the lump, and hangs upside down, as seen in the above image.

The image above shows the beginning of the pupa or chrysalis stage. Not completely formed yet and a lime green colour. It takes about 2 weeks to harden to an emerald jade colour. Can you see the silk button holding the pupa to the leaf?

Fully formed chrysalis. I am amazed at the line of gold dots circling the pupa at the top and a few gold dots towards the bottom.

It has been about 9 days since the beginning of the chrysalis formation. The colouring is now a lighter jade. Can you see the developing butterfly inside? Within the next week, the chrysalis will become transparent and thereafter the Monarch will emerge. It takes roughly one month for an egg to pupa to adult stage.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I am able to take another image prior to the Monarch breaking free.

I took the image below one day prior to the Monarch Butterfly breaking open the chrysalis. Can you see the orange colour of the wings. The cocoon becomes lighter in colour every day.

The very next day, the same cocoon was empty. Two days earlier, I had actually witnessed one of the Monarch's breaking open the cocoon. Amazing is all I can say!

As I mentioned earlier, I had the chance to witness one of the cocoons breaking open. Below is the emerging Monarch. I managed to take the image just as the butterfly opened it's wings for the very first time.

I watched intently as she stretched open and gently flapped her wings in the wind. She sat for a moment, basking in the sun's rays and then flew to the sky.

Here is one other image just prior to her first flight.

Nectar Filled Plants To Attract Butterflies

Annuals

Perennials

I am posting a few other images of the Monarch caterpillar on my Swamp Milkweed

Do You Have An Interesting Butterfly Story?

Do you have a Butterfly Highway in your flower gardens? Tell us about it!

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