Butterfly Madness

While we're on the subject of butterflies, while working in the Butterfly House yesterday I got to witness the hatching of a Monarch! I had noticed this chrysalis with the butterfly showing through. I learned that chrysalis cases are always clear but we usually see them as green because what we are seeing is still the caterpillar inside. I have never noticed one so close to hatching before.

(Sorry it is a little blurred. I only had my phone with me yesterday.) 

Suddenly the case split open a little and I saw some legs emerge. Within seconds the wings appeared. They were kind of all wadded up and ruffly but soon they grew right before my eyes!  

It clung to the case for about an hour before attempting to fly. Yesterday was a cloudy, overcast day with temperatures in the upper 70's so the emerging butterflies were having difficulty warming up and drying out.

The house was just chock full of Monarchs with scores more caterpillars happily munching away! We had only one Black Swallowtail yesterday and several Pearl Crescents and some Wild Indigo Duskywings. This has become such a fun and interesting adventure. Every day there is something new to see and learn.

I couldn't resist painting a picture!