The Metamorphosis

©2007 S.R. Calef

No doubt about it - this monarch wants out. Appearing to be wrapped in the thinnest plastic film, our friend seems on the verge of breaking through. Before I forget, I want to thank the folks at Corliss Bros. Garden Center, in Ipswich, MA, for guarding and sheltering this monarch, prior to the monumental event. I understand that customers were dropping by, camera in hand, to capture at least part of the sequence.

©2007 S.R. Calef

And I especially wish to thank Steve Calef for his patience and perseverance in obtaining these excellent photos... and, obviously, for sharing them with us. The above photos are from September 19th.

©2007 S.R. Calef

Still the 19th, with the "blessed event" about to take place... take a last look at the chrysalis.

©2007 S.R. Calef

Oops! Did you blink? I guess the folks on "Monarch Watch" were distracted for about 5 minutes and missed the actual transformation. When they turned back, it was over. What a disappointment for everybody. Can you see the butterfly? It's center-photo - we're looking at the wing edges, as the drying process begins.

©2007 S.R. Calef

Although the actual event was not captured, the pictures immediately following this are interesting and entertaining. Tomorrow, we'll finish the drying, get onto the flying and a few last antics. We started the journey on September 24th, so if you just found this posting, scroll back to view the early shots and learn a little about the monarch's life cycle.

That green phase, from the first day, is explained by the fact that the pupa is green - not the chrysalis. Gradually, the unique colors and patterning of the monarch become evident, until full color is attained, just before emergence.

If you'd like to get the full experience, go to Monarch Butterfly USA for great still shots, as well as a small video of a monarch gaining its freedom. The rest of the site has good information and is kid-friendly.

Come back tomorrow for the grand finale!


©Deb Lambert 2007