Why Butterfly http://whybutterfly.com The world of the butterfly Fri, 15 May 2009 19:37:11 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 How long does a butterfly live? http://whybutterfly.com/long-butterfly-live/ http://whybutterfly.com/long-butterfly-live/#comments Fri, 15 May 2009 19:37:11 +0000 butterfly http://whybutterfly.com/?p=90 A full grown average adult butterfly lives for about 30 days. Some small butterflies may only live 1 week. Certain types of butterflies like the monarch do live much longer,  as long as 9 months.

]]> http://whybutterfly.com/long-butterfly-live/feed/ 2 Monarch http://whybutterfly.com/monarch/ http://whybutterfly.com/monarch/#comments Sun, 05 Apr 2009 23:10:13 +0000 butterfly http://whybutterfly.com/?p=34 The monarch butterfly is among the most recognized North American butterfly. Monarchs live almost anywhere milkweed grows, and are most prevalent in the Midwest region of the United States.

Danaus plexippus

The Life Cycle of the Monarch Butterfly

monarch egg

Adult monarchs lay a single small egg on an individual milkweed plant. The egg is about the size of a type period. [ . ]

Emerging from an egg to an adult takes approximately one month. Larvae consume a lot of milkweed and grow rapidly. They grow so fast that they shed their skin 5 times before the pupate.

monarch larva

Monarch larvae transform into pupa or chrysalis. The chrysalis turns into a jade color with gold markings, and then becomes clear just prior to emergence.

monarch pupa

Monarch wings are folded in the chrysalis. The monarch must pump up its wings using fluid stored in its abdomen. Monarchs live from 2-5 weeks before reproducing and laying eggs of the next generation.

monarch 2

monarch butterfly

monarch caterpillar

monarch butterfly caterpillar or larva

Monarch Butterfly Coloring Page

Monarch Coloring Page

]]> http://whybutterfly.com/monarch/feed/ 0 Klug’s Clearwing http://whybutterfly.com/klugs-clearwing/ http://whybutterfly.com/klugs-clearwing/#comments Sun, 05 Apr 2009 22:58:07 +0000 butterfly http://whybutterfly.com/?p=42 Klug’s Clearwing

Dircenna klugii

]]> http://whybutterfly.com/klugs-clearwing/feed/ 0 Tiger Mimic-Queen http://whybutterfly.com/tiger-mimic-queen/ http://whybutterfly.com/tiger-mimic-queen/#comments Sun, 05 Apr 2009 22:57:43 +0000 butterfly http://whybutterfly.com/?p=40 Tiger Mimic-Queen

Lycorea cleobaea

]]> http://whybutterfly.com/tiger-mimic-queen/feed/ 0 Soldier http://whybutterfly.com/soldier/ http://whybutterfly.com/soldier/#comments Sun, 05 Apr 2009 22:57:05 +0000 butterfly http://whybutterfly.com/?p=38 Soldier

Danaus eresimus

]]> http://whybutterfly.com/soldier/feed/ 0 Queen http://whybutterfly.com/queen/ http://whybutterfly.com/queen/#comments Sun, 05 Apr 2009 22:56:42 +0000 butterfly http://whybutterfly.com/?p=36 Queen

Danaus gilippus

]]> http://whybutterfly.com/queen/feed/ 0 Pipevine Swallowtail http://whybutterfly.com/pipevine-swallowtail/ http://whybutterfly.com/pipevine-swallowtail/#comments Sun, 05 Apr 2009 22:54:03 +0000 butterfly http://whybutterfly.com/?p=31 Pipevine Swallowtail

Battus philenor

]]> http://whybutterfly.com/pipevine-swallowtail/feed/ 0 Phoebus Parnassian http://whybutterfly.com/phoebus-parnassian/ http://whybutterfly.com/phoebus-parnassian/#comments Sun, 05 Apr 2009 22:51:57 +0000 butterfly http://whybutterfly.com/?p=27 Phoebus Parnassian

Parnassius phoebus

]]> http://whybutterfly.com/phoebus-parnassian/feed/ 0 Clodius Parnassian http://whybutterfly.com/clodius-parnassian/ http://whybutterfly.com/clodius-parnassian/#comments Sun, 05 Apr 2009 22:51:17 +0000 butterfly http://whybutterfly.com/?p=25 Clodius Parnassian

Parnassius clodius

]]> http://whybutterfly.com/clodius-parnassian/feed/ 0 Eversmann’s Parnassian http://whybutterfly.com/eversmanns-parnassian/ http://whybutterfly.com/eversmanns-parnassian/#comments Sun, 05 Apr 2009 22:50:53 +0000 butterfly http://whybutterfly.com/?p=23 Eversmann’s Parnassian

Parnassius eversmanni

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