A monarch begins life as an egg stuck under a
milkweed leaf. The worm (a larva) grows
inside the egg. When ready, the larva chews a
hole on the outside of its egg, and crawls
through the hole until it can enter the world
outside.After a few minutes, the larvae eats
the remains of its egg for the first time.
Female monarchs lay one to three eggs on the
underside of milkweed leaves. This process is
repeated until the female has laid hundreds
of eggs.
After eating its egg, the larva begins to eat
milkweed leaves. Asclepia is the only plant
that a monarch larva can eat. The larva eats
and grows, grows and eat. She grows so big
that she can't fit
After shedding their skins, monarch larvae continue to
grow, and they have to shed four more times. The
last time they move is very different than the
others. The larva crawls from its milkweed, and looks
for a suitable place. Some larvae travel more than
others. When the larva has found the appropriate
place, it begins to weave a silk mesh with a "button"
in the center. Once finished, the larva grabs the silk
with its legs, and hangs upside down. The front of
your body is curved into a "J" shape. The larva
crawls from its milkweed, and looks for a suitable
place. Some larvae travel more than others. When
the larva has found the appropriate place, it begins
to weave a silk mesh with a "button" in the center.
Once finished, the larva grabs the silk with its legs,
and hangs upside down. The front of your body is
curved into a "J" shape.
When it has formed its "J", the larva
molts for the last time. The skin is
parted on the back of its head, and
the larva crawls while hanging upside
down, to shed its old skin. The last
molt is the most difficult, because
the larva has to leave its old skin
and still hang on its "button". Once
the larva incorporates a hook that
penetrates the "button" on the rear
side of the larva, it can remove the
remaining skin.
When the remaining skin falls off, the
larva pupates. It has no eyes, no
antennae. He has no legs, and he cannot
move. All the major changes in body
shape, size, and arrangement take place
when it is a pupa. In monarchs, this
stage can last as long as a week. Upon
completion, an adult butterfly emerges
from the chrysalis.
When the remaining skin falls off, the larva pupates.
It has no eyes, no antennae. He has no legs, and he
cannot move. All the major changes in body shape,
size, and arrangement take place when it is a pupa.
In monarchs, this stage can last as long as a week.
Upon completion, an adult butterfly emerges from
the chrysalis .After the wings have hardened, the
butterfly flies until it finds its first meal. From this
point on, the monarch takes all of her food. The
butterfly will visit various types of flowers to find
its food in the form of nectar.