Comming Out (Release from Captivity)

After 10-14 days in the chrysalis form, the chrysalis will be transparent, which indicated it about time for the coming out.  Once they reach this stage, we move the chrysalis outside so they can hatch near the nectar plants we have prepared for them, like nature intended.

It takes about 15 minutes for the butterfly to open the hatch and slide out while still holding on to the chrysalis.  The wings have not yet fully formed and must be pumped full of liquid and then dry to become hard enough for flight.  The filling of the wings takes about two hours, and the new butterflies hang around on our nectar plants for from 5 minutes to over an hour once they are moble. .  Often sampling different plants, and giving great opportunities for photographs. But they do fly off, but a few have come back to our waystation the next day as it has all the nectar plants they might want.  Unfortunately the grand kids usually hang around for only a day or two then venture off to help complete the Monarch Migration Cycle - one of the 10 top endangered phenomenon in the world. (i,=.e. Four generations passing on knowledge of migration routes and the 4th generation returning to specific overwintering sites. -KNOWLEDGE PASSED ON THROUGH GENETICS - AMAZING and worth protecting)

Canon 7D Canon 180 macro, ISO 400, F5.6 1/800, cropped