The caterpillar apparently hitchhiked from my niece’s organic garden. I did n’t see any other way it could have gotten to my porch, but there it was, in the bouquet of flowers on the table! On my walks with HIKING WITH A SPIRITUAL TWIST, we ask Nature to “Show us the magic!”, but it still surprises me when the magic shows up, right there on my porch!
The 2-inch Monarch butterfly caterpillar was hanging by a thread on the stem of the Yellow Coneflower, in the shape of a “J”. Was it dying or transforming? Watching off and on all day, I decided on noninterference. A few hours later, it was still in the same “J” shape, and it was twitching. I was still watching and not interfering with whatever was going on in the life of this caterpillar.
It was about 8 hours after I first noticed the caterpillar. I did a quick check on the progress of this butterfly to be, but the magic happened when I was n’t watching! A beautiful light green chrysalis replaced the caterpillar in the shape of a “J”! I was in awe! In less than 1 day this amazing creature totally transformed to its next phase.
Follow the progress in the photo journal on this page. The chrysalis had a successful transformation to a butterfly on day 18! (9/18/22)
What an awesome experience for me, to witness this miracle of Nature. It has transformed me!
Thank you! 🙂
THE SEX OF A CHRYSALIS
If you check the black dots area of the chrysalis near the cremaster hook, this is where there is a difference between the male and the female.
The female chrysalis has a tiny vertical slit just below the lower pair of black dots, whereas this area is smooth in the male.
from MALE OR FEMALE (monarchbutterflies.info)
Day 14 Not yet! Still waiting for the butterfly!
More changes…I will be doing hourly checks today!
Why does the Monarch Butterfly chrysalis have gold markings?
There are several hypotheses. The two that make the most sense are deterrents to predators and camouflage.
WHY ARE THERE GOLD DOTS ON A MONARCH CHRYSALIS? | Beauty on the Wing (monarchbutterflyfilm.com)
How did the Monarch Butterfly get it’s name?
From Wikipedia… “The name ‘monarch’ is believed to have been given in honor of King William III of England, as the butterfly’s main color is that of the king’s secondary title, Prince of Orange.[14] The monarch was originally described by Carl Linnaeus in his Systema Naturae of 1758 and placed in the genus Papilio.[15] In 1780, Jan Krzysztof Kluk used the monarch as the type species for a new genus, Danaus.”
That is beautiful and amazing. Thanks for capturing the progress!
I love this! Nature is awesome and you attract the magic ✨
This is so cool! Thank you for sharing this with me Nancy!
James
What a wonderful and complete account..
Thanks for sharing Nancy…
Stay well…
Jack
Miracles do happen thanks for sharing with Jack who shared with me. Linda
I asked …Is the chrysalis male or female? Is there a dangerously low or high environmental temperature to consider for the best survival of the chrysalis?
Here’s what I heard from Linda (Crazy Butterfly Lady):
” From what I can see in the picture it could be a male. I still have chrysalis and they did not turn black yet. All of the stages go by the heat and humidity. It could be shorter or longer than what you read. I even have 3 caterpillars. Once the chrysalis turns black and you can see the butterfly inside it should emerge the same day.”
Linda?
Beautiful transformation……patience now
Yes…we are now past the due date!
I can really see a change. So exciting ☺️
Nancy, I so appreciate your sense of wonder & willingness to patiently document the magic of nature. Thank you!
Wow……..this is amazing
Nature is so incredibly beautiful! Thank You Nancy for taking the time to record and share with us your magical moments with the transformation of the Monarch Butterly. I am in Awe! Thank You!
Thank you for sharing this this magic!!!! It was so awesome to be able to check in each day or so and see the change.
So spectacular how you told this story and you let nature take its course. Thank so much for sharing
Much love
Thanks for sharing! Nature is magical and mystical.
Wow! That was amazing! Great photo journal! Interesting Numerologically speaking. It hatched on 9/18(1+8=9/22. The number 9 is about completion, endings and new begins. How cool is that.
Thanks Nancy
Love the numerology perspective! 🙂 Nancy