Goodbye old...

The garden here is full of milkweed plants, most of which show signs of recent caterpillar damage. I'm told that there had been several monarch (Danaus plexippus) caterpillars on these plants earlier this month.  However, by the time I returned to Florida, the caterpillars had disappeared.  I frequently searched on and around the milkweed plants for caterpillars or chrysalises, but to no avail.  Therefore, it was a big surprise when my mother found a chrysalis lying on the ground right underneath one of the milkweed plants.

A monarch (Danaus plexippus) chrysalis that we found on the ground.

Monarchs hang their chrysalises (see one from this summer); thus, this one must have been knocked down somehow.  Luckily, when I carefully picked it up, it did not look damaged in any way.  We decided to hang the chrysalis up again with some thread and brought it inside for observation.  Two days later, we began to be able to see the butterfly inside.

The monarch chrysalis two days after we found it.

I guessed that it would be just another day before the butterfly was ready to emerge.  Indeed, the next morning the chrysalis was completely transparent and the fully formed butterfly could be seen inside.

The monarch chrysalis three days after we found it.

Throughout the morning, I watched in anticipation, hoping to see the butterfly emerge (eclose).  To be continued...