A monarch caterpillar molting its old skin on a milkweed stem. This happens, so it can enter into the next instar. This process occurs four times before reaching its desired length of 2″.
A new look
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Category Archives: monarch caterpillar
Lots of residents
There are about a dozen monarch caterpillars taking up residence in our butterfly house. They are all pretty close to being done eating.
To learn more about the stunning monarch, visit: https://bit.ly/3g2XGca.
Growing
We currently have three monarch caterpillars in our butterfly house, with one finishing up the molting process.
Did you know that a caterpillar will grow its new skin before shedding the old? When it molts, or sheds its skin, the larger skin is then exposed allowing the caterpillsr to enter the next instar and continue eating.
The incredible transformation
Our J turned into a chrysalis this morning in the butterfly house. It never gets old, watching a monarch caterpillar transform into a chrysalis. Here is a photo series of the final stages of the transformation.
When the caterpillar is ready, the skin splits behind its head, as it moves its body to shed its old skin. When the last of the skin slips off at the silk mat, the caterpillar has finished its chrysalis. In about 10 to 12 days, the butterfly will emerge.
The J
Another monarch caterpillar ready to make its chrysalis and transform into a beautiful monarch butterfly.
Once they reach two inches they are ready for their pupa stage. The caterpillar finds the perfect destination to form its chrysalis and weaves a silk mat. It then grabs the silk with its legs to hang upside down in the “J” form.
