The Monarch Butterflies (Danaus plexippus) emerged from their chrysalises on Thurday this week. I didn’t get to see them do it and that’s somewhat disappointing, but maybe I’ll be lucky next time. It’s nonetheless a thrill to look in the aquarium and see them fluttering about when there was no visible activity before.

I thought the transformation would take about 2 weeks but it seems to have happened a little faster at 12 days. The rate is temperature-dependent so maybe it was warmer and it went faster than the 2 weeks the references state.

The empty and no longer colorful chrysalis.

I was normally checking them when I got home in the afternoon, but I was out of town on Wednesday, so I didn’t get a chance. When I got home Thursday, they were already out. Their wings were fully extended and they looked ready to fly. We didn’t put a cover on the aquarium since we weren’t trying to keep them. We just wanted to observe their transformations.

Both butterflies emerged! A 100% success rate!

When Mary got home a few hours later, they were gone.

My friend, Mike Cseri, says they’ll return next year, so we have something to look forward to.