In our little spot, in the Bay of Islands, New Zealand, we've barely seen any Monarch Butterflies this season and we're more than half way through it. About 3 weeks ago one came swooping into our garden, laying her eggs on a few of my swan plants (milkweed).
As I mentioned in a previous post, I put those first eggs under cover outside because we were on the verge of going away. When we got back two had grown to 5th instar stage and, within a day, had formed their chrysalis's.
At that stage I brought them into the house and the countdown began.
Yesterday morning, after 9 days in the chrysalis, this beautiful lady emerged quite perfectly.
She spent the day sorting herself out then, at about 4pm, flew off to her butterfly life.
Click on each picture, to see a larger view................