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Empty Monarch Butterfly (Danaus plexippus) Chrysalis Just before they pupate, monarch caterpillars spin a silk mat from which they hang upside down by their prolegs (the silk comes from a spinneret on their head). The caterpillar then stabs a stem into the silk pad to hang from. This stem extends from its rear, and is called a cremaster. Once they are in the pupal stage, they will begin their final transformation to become an adult butterfly. Just before the monarch butterfly emerges, their wing pattern becomes visible through the pupal covering. This is not because the pupa is transparent; rather, it is because the pigmentation on the wing scales only develops at the very end of the pupal stage. This stage of development lasts 8-15 days under normal conditions. Monarch metamorphosis from egg to adult takes as little as 25 days, However, it is estimated that fewer than 10% of monarch eggs and caterpillars survive because they are so vulnerable to weather, parasites, and disease. <br /> <br /> Habitat: Empty chrysalis spotted on young, tender milkweed growing on the edge of a meadow<br /> <figure class="photo"><a href="https://www.jungledragon.com/image/82666/empty_monarch_butterfly_danaus_plexippus_chrysalis.html" title="Empty Monarch Butterfly (Danaus plexippus) Chrysalis"><img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/media.jungledragon.com/images/3232/82666_thumb.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=05GMT0V3GWVNE7GGM1R2&Expires=1763596810&Signature=tpvNaTscnOfRRC1u4QOr%2Fpkcz9c%3D" width="122" height="152" alt="Empty Monarch Butterfly (Danaus plexippus) Chrysalis Just before they pupate, monarch caterpillars spin a silk mat from which they hang upside down by their prolegs (the silk comes from a spinneret on their head). The caterpillar then stabs a stem into the silk pad to hang from. This stem extends from its rear, and is called a cremaster. Once they are in the pupal stage, they will begin their final transformation to become an adult butterfly. Just before the monarch butterfly emerges, their wing pattern becomes visible through the pupal covering. This is not because the pupa is transparent; rather, it is because the pigmentation on the wing scales only develops at the very end of the pupal stage. This stage of development lasts 8-15 days under normal conditions. Monarch metamorphosis from egg to adult takes as little as 25 days, However, it is estimated that fewer than 10% of monarch eggs and caterpillars survive because they are so vulnerable to weather, parasites, and disease. <br /> <br /> Habitat: Empty chrysalis spotted on young, tender milkweed growing on the edge of a meadow<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/82667/empty_monarch_butterfly_danaus_plexippus_chrysalis.html Danaus plexippus,Danaus plexippus chrysalis,Danaus plexippus pupa,Geotagged,Monarch Butterfly Chrysalis,Summer,United States,butterfly,chrysalis,monarch chrysalis,monarch pupa,pupa" /></a></figure> Geotagged,Summer,United States,chrysalis,pupa Click/tap to enlarge

Empty Monarch Butterfly (Danaus plexippus) Chrysalis

Just before they pupate, monarch caterpillars spin a silk mat from which they hang upside down by their prolegs (the silk comes from a spinneret on their head). The caterpillar then stabs a stem into the silk pad to hang from. This stem extends from its rear, and is called a cremaster. Once they are in the pupal stage, they will begin their final transformation to become an adult butterfly. Just before the monarch butterfly emerges, their wing pattern becomes visible through the pupal covering. This is not because the pupa is transparent; rather, it is because the pigmentation on the wing scales only develops at the very end of the pupal stage. This stage of development lasts 8-15 days under normal conditions. Monarch metamorphosis from egg to adult takes as little as 25 days, However, it is estimated that fewer than 10% of monarch eggs and caterpillars survive because they are so vulnerable to weather, parasites, and disease.

Habitat: Empty chrysalis spotted on young, tender milkweed growing on the edge of a meadow

Empty Monarch Butterfly (Danaus plexippus) Chrysalis Just before they pupate, monarch caterpillars spin a silk mat from which they hang upside down by their prolegs (the silk comes from a spinneret on their head). The caterpillar then stabs a stem into the silk pad to hang from. This stem extends from its rear, and is called a cremaster. Once they are in the pupal stage, they will begin their final transformation to become an adult butterfly. Just before the monarch butterfly emerges, their wing pattern becomes visible through the pupal covering. This is not because the pupa is transparent; rather, it is because the pigmentation on the wing scales only develops at the very end of the pupal stage. This stage of development lasts 8-15 days under normal conditions. Monarch metamorphosis from egg to adult takes as little as 25 days, However, it is estimated that fewer than 10% of monarch eggs and caterpillars survive because they are so vulnerable to weather, parasites, and disease. <br /> <br /> Habitat: Empty chrysalis spotted on young, tender milkweed growing on the edge of a meadow<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/82667/empty_monarch_butterfly_danaus_plexippus_chrysalis.html Danaus plexippus,Danaus plexippus chrysalis,Danaus plexippus pupa,Geotagged,Monarch Butterfly Chrysalis,Summer,United States,butterfly,chrysalis,monarch chrysalis,monarch pupa,pupa

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By Christine Young

All rights reserved
Uploaded Aug 3, 2019. Captured Aug 3, 2019 07:58 in 91 Main St, Sharon, CT 06069, USA.
country flag of United States of America Explore United States of America 40,043 9,661 8
  • Canon EOS 80D
  • f/9.0
  • 1/197s
  • ISO400
  • 100mm
Captured in the summer. More summer photos.