By Emily Munro Monarch Butterfly Life Cycle
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2760/4349825055_29f3a1f332_o.png
Monarch egg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kiwinz/3350543945/
•Eggs are laid on milkweed plants.
Monarch egg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/wonderferret/390903911/in/photostream/
•It takes around four days for the egg to hatch.
Larva
http://www.flickr.com/photos/wonderferret/390901729/
• Once they hatch the baby caterpillars are called larva.
Growth
http://www.flickr.com/photos/russellbernice/255200436/
• They eat and eat for about two weeks.
“J”
http://www.flickr.com/photos/elisfanclub/4577150091/sizes/l/in/photostream/
•When they are full grown and ready to turn in to a butterfly they hang in a “J”.
Chrysalis
http://www.flickr.com/photos/oakleyoriginals/3972597389/in/photostream/
•They begin to turn in to a chrysalis or pupa.
Chrysalis
http://www.flickr.com/photos/elisfanclub/4577783826/sizes/z/in/photostream/
• They are a chrysalis for 9-12 days.
Chrysalis
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tiswango/2424922027/
• As it gets closer to emerging, the chrysalis becomes more clear.
About to Emerge
http://www.flickr.com/photos/27948818@N05/3086525910/
Butterfly!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cabeel/3625617449/in/photostream/
•When the Butterfly first emerges its wings are soft and wrinkled.
Butterfly!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cabeel/3625628155/in/photostream/
•The Monarch hangs upside down until its wings are flat and hard.
Butterfly!
• It then flies off to start the cycle all over again.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/calliope/207429356/sizes/z/in/photostream/
Sources
http://www.fs.fed.us/monarchbutterfly/faqs.shtml
http://askabiologist.asu.edu/monarch-life-cycle