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Click on the first image to open the album.
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Male Monarch
Males have two dark spots on the hind wings. The antennae are used for balance and for smell.
Female Monarch
Female on its host plant Milkweed. Butterflies "taste"with their feet which helps them find the right host plant.
Monarch Pair
Look closely to see both of them mating. Eggs are fertilized instantaneously.
Monarch Eggs
Tiny eggs are laid individually. They hatch in about 7-10 days.
Eggs on milkweed
Eggs laid on host plant so that when the larva (caterpillar) hatches, it is on the proper plant to feed. Holes are where caterpillars have fed.
Monarch Caterpillar
The caterpillars have no defense. The monarch caterpillar has antennae at both ends to confuse predators.
egg caterpillar and adult
egg on lower left leaf. Caterpillar is the only stage where it grows. Lasts about 2 weeks. A monarch caterpillar eats its own weight in a day!
Monarch Chrysalis
A Chrysalis has no defense. The monarch's green chrysalis can blend into a leaf.
Monarch chrysalis
These monarch Chrysalis at the Coastal Discovery Museum are in various stages of development. This stage varies by species but in general, lasts 2-4 weeks.
Monarch chrysalis
Inside, the former caterpillar turns to liquid and goes through metamorphosis to become a butterfly.
Monarch emerging
It takes about 5 minutes for the adult to emerge by pushing through the bottom of the chrysalis.for life. Most butterflies only live for a few days to a couple weeks. The Monarch can live about 5 weeks.
Monarch Emerging
The butterfly pumps liquid through the wings to expand them. If a wing doesn't fully pump up, it will remain that way.
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