backyard audubon society hails new members

on this fine spring day, we greet two adult monarchs.  One chrysalis had been indoors because we were fearful of bad weather, the Friday lawn care crew’s leaf blower, lizards, and a host of other possible doom-and-gloom scenarios.

The monarch’s metamorphosis within its chrysalis occurs over the span of 9 days.

On the first day, they are bright green.

 

By day 9, the adult markings are clearly visible. 

 

It must happen all of a sudden, because the next time I checked, it was a butterfly.

At this point the butterfly’s wings need to unwrinkle and the butterfly’s body needs to eliminate excess liquid.  See how his wings (above) are still crumpled? 

One of this guy’s siblings emerged from her chrysalis in the nearby shrub at precisely the same time.

By 2:30, the insect’s thorax was much more pronounced and the abdomen narrower.

By 3pm both were flexing their wings

 and by 3:30 they were off on a new adventure.

I photographed these two insects within 5 feet of each other.  I secured the twig to which the first chrysalis was attached to the arm of an outdoor chair.  Coincidentally, another chrysalis is metamorphasizing on the very same chair, just beneath the very same armrest.  We didn’t notice it until today.

Apparently the monarchs are far from finished.  There are still caterpillars growing

and eggs prepared to hatch (yes that tiny white dot near the middle of the leaf is an egg).

Just like a couple of 7th graders excited about assembling their science projects, Cristybella and I are prepared to recruit new members to our backyard audubon society 🙂

Thanks for your enthusiasm!  It’s such fun sharing the excitement!

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Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch

nifty thrifty sunday at nifty thrifty things