The Life Cycle of the Monarch Butterfly
Like all butterflies, the Monarch’s life cycle consists of a series of changes called metamorphosis.
Stage 1: Egg
Life begins as a tiny egg, no larger than a sesame seed. The female butterfly lays hundreds of these eggs, usually on the underside of milkweed leaves. After a few days, the baby caterpillar is ready to hatch.
Stage 2: Caterpillar
The newborn caterpillar eats its way out of the egg, only two millimeters long — small enough to fit on the head of a pin. Its first meal is the protein‑rich eggshell. Soon after, it begins feeding on milkweed leaves.
Young caterpillars are true eating machines. They grow rapidly, shedding their skin several times, each molt marking a new stage of development.
Stage 3: Chrysalis
When the caterpillar is ready for its final transformation, it attaches itself firmly to a branch. In a matter of minutes, it sheds its skin one last time and forms a chrysalis.
The chrysalis resembles a plant structure, a camouflage that protects it from predators during this vulnerable stage. For about a week and a half, the Monarch undergoes an astonishing transformation inside. Gradually, the delicate colors of the butterfly begin to emerge.
Stage 4: Adult Butterfly
At last, the metamorphosis is complete. A new Monarch butterfly appears. At first, its wings are small and crumpled. Within minutes, fluids fill the veins, expanding the wings to their full size.
Finally, the Monarch is ready for its first flight. The adult will spend its life feeding on nectar and reproducing, beginning the cycle anew.
