Success with Monarchs!

Happy Spring, y'all!

The year started with some shoulder issues and a few visits to the physical therapist. As I diligently tried to exercise to get back in shape, I kept a check on the flowers in the backyard. Snapdragons, Violas, and Sweet Alyssum, with the Mexican Heather bush were flowering nicely. Oxalis flowers were abundant. Bees were visiting, and that was a good sight.
The winter had been mild. It continued to be mild as February progressed, so the milkweed I had planted in the backyard a couple of years ago did not die down as it normally does.

Milkweed Flowers

Monarch butterflies were flying around, and soon I saw several caterpillars on the milkweed bush.

I did not want to get my hopes up, because last year, I had seen caterpillars and also observed how wasps would sting them, killing them almost instantly. It was sad, but it was also nature's way of keeping things in check.

Milkweed

Now, at one time, I counted as many as 13 of them! They were all happily munching on the milkweed and devouring all the leaves at a brisk pace.

Until now, I had seen caterpillars on the milkweed bush, but I never got to see the life cycle after that stage. I wasn't looking properly maybe, because after what I witnessed this year, I realized that I wasn't observant enough. There indeed were at least two empty chrysalis shells from last year on the cross boards on the fence.

Monarch Caterpillar

I had simply not imagined that caterpillars can travel quite a distance before they attach themselves to a spot and make the chrysalis shell around them. My first surprise was when I saw a caterpillar on the basil plant on my patio. It was about 20 feet away from the milkweed bush, and I had not seen a caterpillar on the basil earlier. A little while later, much to my delight, I noticed a jade green chrysalis neatly hanging from the basil branch. A neat row of gold dots adorned one side of the chrysalis, seemed like a seam.

Monarch Chrysalis

I kept an eye on it, even moved the basil pot to a sheltered location on the patio. Well aware that it wasn't me who was in control here, nature had its own way of doing things. 

After about 11 days, upon stepping out, I noticed that the color had changed to almost black. 

Monarch Chrysalis- butterfly ready to emerge 

After that, it was fast! I missed the actual emergence, but luckily got to see the final moments of the process. The beautiful Monarch was slowly sipping up the last bits of much needed liquid from the chrysalis shell, to fill up the veins in its wings, before settling down to dry out. It took a couple of hours, and soon, it flew away!

Monarch Chrysalis- butterfly emerging

The empty shell remained on the basil, and I suddenly felt a void. I used to keep an eye on the chrysalis every day whenever I stepped outside, and had seen the color slowly change over the few days. I used to wonder how the next few stages would be, and in 10 days, I had gotten very attached to this little guy. Now, it was gone! It's strange how quickly we form attachments to transient things.

Monarch Chrysalis empty shell

A mild winter proved to be a blessing for these guys, because the wasps were not around yet. I decided to check out the other caterpillars on the milkweed bush. Suddenly my eyes caught something on the underside of the cross bar on the fence. A caterpillar had attached itself and busy making a chrysalis around it. I just sat there for the next few minutes, and saw at least three other caterpillars do the same at different spots a few feet away from each other. 

Monarch Caterpillar turning into a Chrysalis

Soon, a jade green pupa was hanging where the caterpillar once was! 

Monarch Chrysalis on the fence crossboard

My eyes were trained by now to spot these beautiful little things hanging from the most unexpected places. I saw one on my lavender pot.

Monarch Chrysalis on the Lavender pot

The same process I had seen earlier played out with all of the chrysalis. Unfortunately, two of them decided to emerge on a very rainy day and they did not get a chance to dry out completely. Their wings remained fused and after about 36 hours, they could not stay alive. 

The other six went on to become pretty Monarch butterflies though. Like I said earlier, nature has its own checks and balances.

Monarch Chrysalis- butterfly ready to emerge 

The lavender pot butterfly hatched and emerged slowly. The wings are all kind of crumpled at first.

Monarch Chrysalis- butterfly emerging

Within minutes, the butterfly manages to straighten them up and gain strength.

Monarch Chrysalis- butterfly emerging

Still unfolding, unfurling the wings!

Monarch Chrysalis- butterfly emerging

 Almost there!

Monarch Chrysalis- butterfly emerging- drying out

 It then moved to a spot close by to finish the process of drying out.

Just hatched Monarch Butterfly drying out

The empty shell stayed behind, a sweet reminder of what had just happened.

Monarch Chrysalis empty shell

The pretty butterfly on the Milkweed bush. Ready to lay eggs again. 

All the butterflies had emerged and were calling the yard their home. Maybe it was my imagination, but whenever I stepped outside, at least three would come by flying and do a little dance around my head. I would say hello, and they seemed to be enjoying the sunshine and the flowers around. This happened for about a week. Now they have left. Hope to see the same process play out next year! Adios, friends!

 Monarch Butterfly