The Metamorphosis is complete - Before and after

[Krebstar4000]

I picked up 5 monarch caterpillars a few weeks ago when I was in northern Michigan and brought them back with me and let them chomp on their milkweed until they decided to change into butterflies...Here are a couple shots of the first one to finish out of the bunch...Before and after

It's a female and I was able to get some nice photos while she was still pumping blood into her wings so she could fly away...







Thanks for looking (heres a few more if you're interested)
Monarchs - a set on Flickr

[flavio]

Lovely set.
Excellent pictures!
Thanks

[leonaashlee]

Very simple, yet so very intense....we used to hatch these all the time when I taught school...quite a thing to see.

[Repty]

So beautiful. Love the colours of the butterfly and the bg was flowers.

[Krebstar4000]

Originally Posted by leonaashlee

Very simple, yet so very intense....we used to hatch these all the time when I taught school...quite a thing to see.

I just kept waiting for them to come out and I couldn't have asked for a better day to release it and take some pictures...The next one is on schedule for later on this afternoon but because of work it's going to have to spend the evening in the box I made with some sugar water cotton balls...I'm sure it won't be nearly as relaxed when I take it outside so I'm sure it will fly away as soon as possible...This one I photographed JUST came out right when I woke up so it was still really clumsy when it was walking around...but it only took two hours for it to fly...

Thanks for commenting

[Ella1267]

Awesome photo....I like the set very much.