Of course, it is rather late in the year for this to be called a “beginning” properly, but nevertheless it is a beginning. And it all began earlier on August 1 when we took in two monarch caterpillars.
The two caterpillars at home in a mesh cube filled with milkweed cuttings.
The caterpillar on the left (above) is clearly visible, whereas the one on the right is somewhat obscured.
Three days later each caterpillar formed a successful chrysalis.
A little over ten days later a monarch butterfly emerged from the chrysalis on the left.
Above, one can see that the monarch-to-be is ready to exit its chrysalis.
And an hour after the first monarch appeared, the second monarch came out.
A few hours later, both monarchs had finished “growing” their wings.
Later in the same day, both monarchs exercised their wings. By the gland enlargement on the second-nearest to the body hind wing, the monarch is a male. Actually, both monarchs were males.
Rainy weather meant that Sue and I had to delay the release of the monarchs until two days later.
Above, the monarch in Sue’s hand took flight almost immediately and ascended well over the roof in a few seconds.
The second monarch hesitated a bit, allowing a clear photo.
The monarch took a test hop and flew to the top of the cube.
After a minute of thinking things through, the monarch began flapping and ascending.
The monarch, in powered flight, leaves the area.
And so two more monarchs joined the flight south to Mexico to see about the next generation.
