A Small Miracle Saves the Season!

​

---

     All the outdoor caterpillars were gone, most eaten by migrating fall warblers in one afternoon. Of the four we had taken indoors, two had died and the first chrysalis was compromised and failed. The last chrysalis, the last hope, stayed green through day ten, and through day 15, and through day 20 (normal is 10-14 days). The plant on which it hung was dying its natural death and we had to attach the chrysalis with a clip to a lantana. But it was so far past its normal due date that we were giving up hope, and reconciling ourselves to the first season in which we did not have a Monarch butterfly emerge. 
     On day 21, Stephanie saw some darkening, the kind of darkening through transparency which can precede eclosure. On day 23,  October 15th, the chrysalis was fully transparent, and the butterfly within visible. In what shape would it be when it emerged from a development stage nearly twice the average? At 1:41 PM, the hinged flap started to open...

and exactly a minute later...

         There it was, but it appeared smaller, its wings tinier, and it struggled to hang on to the shell of the chrysalis, which shredded. Ten minutes later (below), it was still filling out, pumping fluid from its abdomen to its wings, and struggling to get the two halves of its proboscis together.  If you like, you can see the whole unedited eclosure video here: https://youtu.be/7Ce0tBQcvoQ

          The butterfly's normal progression was attenuated, and at times unsuccessful. It failed to pull itself up on leaves to dry its wings and flex them. The first afternoon it did not eat, or fly. As night fell, we carried the potted lantana out to the garden, and nestled it in a sheltered area full of cover and late-season nectar flowers, such as marigolds, penta, and lantana. Our thinking was that 1) better to be in nature and all the natural signals and 2) poorer weather was expected in 24 hours and we wanted it to fly and get south as soon as possible. 
          But by the next morning, nearing 11 AM, it had moved only a few inches, and was just resting on a marigold leaf. 

          This little one needed a little help. We suspected its extra long stay inside the chrysalis had left it depleted and dehydrated. Or maybe its proboscis had not come together, which would prevent it from eating. So Rick gave it a lift, which it easily accepted, up to a fresh Butterfly Bush bloom. Finally, it fed, working its way around the whole set of little flowers. 

             About 24 hours after emergence, this beautiful miracle male Monarch flew off, ending a strange and sometimes baffling butterfly season on a magical note.