Life Cycles of a Monarch ButterflyLaToya Claiborne

Monarch Egg Monarch butterfly egg.

The egg will hatch in about 8 days.

SidPix. “Monarch Life Cycle”. 26 December 2009. Online Image. Flickr. 23 June 2012. http://www.flickr.com/photos/sidm/4813477606/in/photostream/.

SidPix. “Monarch Life Cycle”. 9 January 2010. Online Image. Flickr. 22 June 2012. http://www.flickr.com/photos/sidm/4813477744/in/set-72157624547070910/.

This is a recently hatched caterpillar. A caterpillars first meal is when it eats its way out of the shell. Now the caterpillar begins to eat at the leaf.

Caterpiller

SidPix. “Monarch Life Cycle.” 9 January 2009. Online Image. Flickr. 30 June 2012. http://www.flickr.com/photos/sidm/4812853459/in/photostream/

The caterpillar continues to eat at the leaf, so he can grow. The marks on the leaf is what has been eaten by the caterpillar.

The caterpillar continues to eat

and grow. He is almost ready for

pupation (stage where the caterpillar

Transform into a butterfly).

SidPix. “Monarch Life Cycle”. 19 April 2010. Onine Image. Flickr. 22 June 2012.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sidm/4813478124/in/set-72157624547070910/ .

Monarch Caterpillar

beginning stage of pupation.

The caterpillar begins by making

himself into a “J” shape.

SidPix. “Monarch Life Cycle”. 10 May 2010. Online Image. Flickr. 22 June 2012. http://www.flickr.com/photos/sidm/4813478272/in/set-72157624547070910/.

The caterpillar begins to shed

its skin. Look closely near the

head of the caterpillar.

SidPix. “Monarch Life Cycle.” 10 May 2009. Online Image. Flickr. 30 June 2012. http://www.flickr.com/photos/sidm/4813478370/in/photostream/.

Monarch Caterpillar transformation to a

pupa (chrysalis). The chrysalis is very

soft.

SidPix. “Monarch Life Cycle”. 10 May 2010. Online Image. Flickr. 22 June 2012.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sidm/4813478466/in/set-72157624547070910/.

The caterpillar takes about 12

minutes to molt. Soon it will be

completely covered.

SidPix. “Monarch Life Cycle.” Online Image. Flickr. 30 June 2012. http://www.flickr.com/photos/sidm/4813478626/sizes/m/in/photostream/.

The casing is hardening. The adult

butterfly is beginning to form.

SidPix. “Monarch Life Cycle.” 10 May 2009. Online Image. Flickr. 30 June 2012. http://www.flickr.com/photos/sidm/4813040593/in/photostream/

Monarch ChrysalisThe monarch butterfly is in the hard

casing, known as a chrysalis.

SidPix. “Monarch Life Cycle”. 11 May 2009. Online Image. Flickr. 22 June 2012. http://www.flickr.com/photos/sidm/4813664836/in/set-72157624547070910/.

Before the butterfly is due the

chrysalis turns black. The wings

of the butterfly begin to show.

SidPix. “Monarch Life Cycle.” 2 June 2009. Online Image. Flickr. 30 June 2012. http://www.flickr.com/photos/sidm/4813040967/in/photostream/.

Monarch Butterfly chrysalis cracks and the butterfly emerges.

SidPix. “Monarch Life Cycle.” 22 April 2010. Online Image. Flickr. 22 June 2012. http://www.flickr.com/photos/sidm/4813665260/in/set-72157624547070910/.

The butterfly holds onto

the remains of the

chrysalis. The butterfly’s

wings are soft and it is

not ready to fly.

SidPix. “Monarch Life Cycle.” 22 April 2010. Online Image. Flickr. 30 June 2012. http://www.flickr.com/photos/sidm/4813041379/in/photostream/.

The Monarch butterfly continues

to hold onto the chrysalis. He

will continue to hold on until he

is ready to fly.

SidPix. “Monarch Life Cycle.” 22 April 2010. Onine Image. Flickr. 30 June 2012. http://www.flickr.com/photos/sidm/4813041613/in/photostream/.

The butterfly’s wings have

hardened and the butterfly

makes his way up the plant. The

butterfly is getting ready to fly.

SidPix. “Monarch Life Cycle.” 22 April 2010. Online Image. Flickr. 30 June 2012. http://www.flickr.com/photos/sidm/4813042141/sizes/m/in/photostream/.

Monarch

Butterfly ready

to fly.

SidPix. “Monarch Life Cycle”. 22 April 2010. Online Image. Flickr. 22 June 2012.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sidm/4813042397/in/set-72157624547070910/.