Monarch arrival!

14 days after our Monarch caterpillar disappeared into his/her chrysalis, tonight was the night for HER to reappear as a beautiful butterfly!  Around 10:15 pm the chrysalis darkens.  The butterfly should emerge in another half hour or so...

11:04 pm the chrysalis breaks open and the butterfly pushes out.  She doesn't look much like a Monarch yet, does she?  Her abdomen is full of fluid that will be pumped into her wings, expanding them to full size.

Within 15 minutes, her abdomen has shrunk and her wings have enlarged to almost full size.

5 more minutes and she is now fully grown, and begins drying her wings.  Tomorrow we will tag and release her.  Unfortunately, she is a very late bloomer, and the chances of her completing her migration to Mexico are slim now, but we will wish her the best on her journey and hope she makes it.  For tonight tho, she is set up with sugar water to hold her over until her journey begins tomorrow.

Beautiful.