As the butterflies emerged from their chrysalides, we learned some more fascinating facts about these mystical creatures!
When we last left off, the caterpillars’ had all revealed their chrysalides and were hanging peacefully from the top of their terrarium. As the time came closer for each caterpillar to emerge fully transformed from its chrysalis, we received helpful warning signs from the butterfly within.
The more fully formed the Monarch butterfly became within the chrysalis, the more translucent the chrysalis became, until one day we could see right through the thin walls of the chrysalis to the folded-up butterfly inside. So much suspense had built up between the day the first caterpillar revealed its chrysalis and the day the butterfly emerged that just this peak into what the butterfly would look like was thrilling.
For 15 days we checked on those green, jewel-like chrysalises, hoping to see some change. Finally, the time was near! It was beautiful to see the pure, untouched Monarch wing curled up against the papery, clear chrysalis wall.
When the butterfly decides to emerge, the process is very quick. It only takes a couple of minutes for her to tear open the bottom of the chrysalis and climb out. Be careful - once the chrysalis is clear, don’t go to the bathroom or do anything that requires more than a minute of your time - that will surely be the moment the Monarch makes its grand entrance.
At first, its wings are wet and crumpled, so it spends its time drying, pumping fluid from its thorax into the wings in order to stretch them out and plump them up. Meanwhile, the butterfly is also using its labial palps (butterfly mouth) to construct her proboscis [proh-bos-is], which is in two parts. It immediately gets to work on making the two proboscis parts one as it hangs and dries, and I’d imagine mentally preparing for its 2,000 mile journey south.
It’s truly amazing how much we don’t know about the Monarch’s migration. It’s extremely hard to track them throughout the flight, even if we identify their tags at point A and point B. What happens in between is unknown.
We don’t know how they know where they’re going, or how many miles they fly in a day, or if they take the same route there and back. We don’t know if they get lost, or how many make it during the migration.
What we do know is that the Monarchs make an incredible journey every fall and every spring, somehow knowing where to go and what to do to get there.
Amazing creatures, amazing world.
Some sources I found helpful if you want to read more:
