These photos, of developing Monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus), come from reader Marilee Lovit, whose notes are indented:
Monarch butterfly chrysalis yesterday [August 22]. The second one is not quite as far along.
Another Monarch butterfly photo. This chrysalis is so gorgeous that I wanted to add it to the Monarch photos I sent over the last few days.
A few more. The first shows the chrysalis emerging after the caterpillar has hung in a J shape for a while. The last one 2 caterpillars exposing a cross section of a milkweed seed pod. My small milkweed patch was completely consumed, leaves, flowers, fruit pods totally gone, and the last caterpillars were reduced to eating the stems. I think this may be because there isn’t much milkweed in the immediate area. At highest count I found 89 chrysalises around this patch, many hanging from shingles, porch railing, etc.
This is the shed exterior covering of the caterpillar that falls away from the new chrysalis. Photographed with a microscope camera.
Here is the chrysalis that was in the first photo I sent you, but here is much closer to opening. Then, minutes later, I returned to find the new butterfly. I am sure lots of people take pictures of these things, and probably you have already posted nice ones. This is the first year I have been seeing these butterflies close up because of my own milkweed patch which I planted a few years ago, using wild seeds I collected several miles away.
Anyone have an idea about why the monarch chrysalis has evolved the golden, reflective patches of structural color?
I learned today that “chrysalis” is derived from the Greek word “chrysos” meaning “gold”
Your Q: Nobody knows it seems, but THIS LINK is worth a click for the pictures & info. Extract:
You left out God. What about: God dunnit to thrill us humans?
Thanks for the info!
As a kid who was inerested in butterflies, I was given a book by my aunt that included Monarch and Viceroy butterflies (see here for Viceroy) and I was fascinated by their similarity. This was explained in the book as Batesian mimicry, though the Vicroy is now known to be distasteful to birds rather than the tasty treat described in the book.
I was somewhat disappointed to discover that neither species live in the UK, the books being a gift from a trip to US 😀
cute! also beautiful!
Very interesting. A lot of work getting those pics!
Thanks for sharing. Beautiful.
Great pix! This gives me further hope that the milkweed patches I’ve harbored here in the last couple years will eventually become breeding grounds. I see Monarchs visiting them, but so far no evidence of Monarch reproduction.
I also recently learned from my goat-tending neighbor that milkweed is on the short list of things that goats won’t eat, so my patches are safe if his goats get out. My hops vines not so much.
Great pictures! Thanks for sharing.
Good stuff! I happen to have a batch of then now as well. But yours are especially numerous. I have never seen that.
Completely fascinating. I have seen many in various stages of development but never had the time nor patience to document as thoroughly as you have the entire cycle. We have lots of milkweed and usually lots of dill which is also favored. But this year we are seeing a slight recovery of monarch populations because (my guess)there has been little aerial application of pesticides. Butterfly population in general have become greatly reduced in just the past ten years. Haven’t seen a skipper yet.
I thought Monarchs lay their eggs only on milkweed, not dill, and the caterpillars eat nothing but milkweed. They stay on the plant, consuming it, until the time comes to crawl off to some other plant species or structure, from which to hang upside-down and produce their chrysalis. I wonder if they do not stay on the milkweed plant when ready to become a chrysalis,in order to not have their chrysalis consumed by other Monarch caterpillars.
I’m assuming you mean that the swallowtail butterflies favour the dill.
Stunning, thank you for lifting my spirits.
These are very cool!
This reminds me that I must ask my neighbor to help the swallowtails by not cutting down the anise in his back yard. Hope he won’t think I’m a buttinsky and ignore my plea.
These are wonderful photos! Thanks!
Great photos! I don’t have a good wild Monarch population so I must buy cats and raise them indoors.
The result has been to raise 100% females which after some research is probably due to an infection in the cats that changed the gender.
I usually prefer ladies generally but as my wife points out “ if you want baby cats you need males.
Thanks much, Marilee Lovit, for sharing these absolutely gorgeous Monarch photos!!
My best friend in California also grows milkweed for her Monarchs, so I have forwarded this to her.
Wonderful photos!! Thanks, again!
🦋 🦋 🦋 🦋 🦋
Where is this location and the date pictures were taken?
The posted photos were over several dates, all in August 2019, though maybe a few caterpillar pictures were in late July. Coastal Washington County, Maine, the Downeast coast. I noticed the first chrysalis (that I could see)on August 10, and they started emerging from chrysalises in the August 20’s. Now, Sept 3, almost all have emerged, but still a few are in chrysalis. I have new photos of the emergence which is fantastic to see. This morning at least 3 emerged, one closely photographed by me. I hope to organize a small group of photos of the emergence to submit to Jerry.
I see this process happen every summer around 250 times
I raise monarchs and figure I’ve released over 2000 in the past 14 yesrd
Imagine what life would be like if we went through such a change!
Such cool photos!