LIFE CYCLE

OF THE

MONARCH

BUTTERFLY

Without the milkweed plant we have no Monarch butterflies. It is the only plant the Monarch caterpillar eats in that phase of its life cycle.

Around my neck of the woods both the plant and the butterfly are becoming scarce but we certainly found them thriving recently in the mountains along the Appalachian Trail in Virginia.

The total lifetime of the Monarch spans just 6 to 8 weeks. In that brief period it goes from egg to caterpillar to chrysalis to butterfly...then death.

It grows inside the egg for about for about 4 days then hatches into the caterpillar stage and munches on its milkweed plant as larvae for about two weeks. Then they suspend themselves from a handy perch by secreting an adhesive from their tail.

There, in the shape of a reverse “J” they cover themselves in a transparent chrysalis as a pupa where, over a period of some 10 days they metamorphose into a butterfly.

Their lives also involve a stunning migration.

We’ll join them on their life cycle journey as they hibernate over the winter in Mexico and southern California. Then, in February/March they will reawaken, find a mate then begin the long flight north where they will lay their eggs—and die.

These special Monarchs will have lived about 4 to 5 months through the long winter and migration.

During March/April the first generation of the season is born; egg, caterpillar, chrysalis and adult. The second generation repeats in May/June. The third generation repeats in July/August.

The fourth generation which we observed and photographed above occurs in September/October—but does not die. It migrates south and lives six to eight months before it starts the next life cycle of these magical and amazing creatures.

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Search key words: Monarch butterfly life cycle. Photos by the author except the adult which is from Monarchbutterflyusa.com/cycle which also contributed to this story and for which we express our gratitude.