A Monarch arrives in the world (Explored)
This is one of the monarchs that I raised in a protected enclosure from a first instar. I watched it pupate into a beautiful green chrysalis about 11 days ago and this morning I was able to video it as it eclosed. Although its wings appear withered and tiny when it first comes out, within 20 minutes they are fully "inflated" and within 2-4 hours, the butterfly is flight-ready.
You can also see that its proboscis isn't yet "zippered" - in a short time, it will get those two pieces zipped together, allowing it to gather nectar.
This makes 27 monarchs I've raised and released so far this year. In the wild, statistically only 2 would have survived to become butterflies.
A Monarch arrives in the world (Explored)
This is one of the monarchs that I raised in a protected enclosure from a first instar. I watched it pupate into a beautiful green chrysalis about 11 days ago and this morning I was able to video it as it eclosed. Although its wings appear withered and tiny when it first comes out, within 20 minutes they are fully "inflated" and within 2-4 hours, the butterfly is flight-ready.
You can also see that its proboscis isn't yet "zippered" - in a short time, it will get those two pieces zipped together, allowing it to gather nectar.
This makes 27 monarchs I've raised and released so far this year. In the wild, statistically only 2 would have survived to become butterflies.