Monarch

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

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 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 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.