The monarch goes through many changes to become a butterfly. The eggs are laid on milkweed plants which are the only food source for the caterpillar. After hatching from its egg, it will molt (shed it's skin) five times as it grows. Each stage of growth is called an instar. When the caterpillar is big and plump, from eating its fill of milkweed, it is ready to form the chrysalis.
The caterpillar will find a safe place to form its "J" (hang upside down) and spin a silk pad to attach its self to it. After hanging for several hours it's ready to molt one last time and the chrysalis emerges. The chrysalis will harden, keeping the delicate inside safe from the outside world as many changes happen within. After about two weeks the monarch butterfly is ready to emerge (eclose), stretch its wings, and fly.
A freshly laid Monarch egg on a milkweed leaf
Monarch caterpillar ready to hatch
one day after hatching
tiny caterpillar growing
freshly molted
eating a milkweed flower
the bigger they get the more they eat
making a "J" last stage before chrysalis
forming the chrysalis (in timelapse)
brand new chrysalis
butterfly wings becoming visible in chrysalis
final moments before butterfly ecloses (emerges)
just eclosed
letting the wings straighten and dry
getting ready for first flight
empty chrysalis
brand new wing closeup
