Chrysalis

A Magical Moment in the Garden

     Over the past week, resident lepidopterist Stephanie has been practically living in the garden, The total population of monarch caterpillars exploded to 18, all in various stages of development (they go through 5!). She watched where they went, what they ate, provided occasional transport when they ran out of leaves on a milkweed stalk. She studied how they selected their leaves, and, once chosen, the particular way they ate the leaf, starting near the end but not the tip, making a circular cut, and then digging in.
     Then, the past couple days,  they started disappearing. Yesterday we were down to five. We read about where caterpillars might go, how far they could travel (up to 30 feet, some said), to begin the transformation to butterflies. They could end up in trees, on man-made structures, or under the leaves of myriad plants. At first she couldn't find any, a flutter of despair seeping in.
     This morning only three caterpillars remained. Neighbors Stephen and Gretchen came to look, and Stephen said, “Look, here’s one!” It was a pupa!! The caterpillar was hanging upside down under a butterfly bush leaf in the distinctive J shape! This was Christmas morning for us! 
    At mid-morning, a second pupa  was found by Stephanie on the Rose Milkweed. Double thrill! Alas, Stephanie made the tiny, understandable mistake of thinking she might have time for a drink of water and a bite of lunch. But upon her return, she was stunned to find that the first one had shed its skin and was a beautiful chrysalis, the most amazing part of the metamorphosis so far.   What a day! We have one caterpillar remaining  and we wonder whether it will be here in the morning. Stephanie plans to photograph the chrysalises each day to show the changes that will occur as the chrysalis prepares to become a beautiful Monarch!
     We will be updating every day with new pictures and new discoveries. Please come back tomorrow for the latest.
     And congratulations Stephanie! Love You!