Our Monarchs don't migrate anywhere, rather they stay around the area and form into clusters. They hang about together in tall trees over Winter so, come Spring, this one will be raring to go.
I love watching the process of a new butterfly emerging. The chrysalis changes colour from green to black and you begin to see the orange of the wings under the skin of the chrysalis. Next it sucks in air, in order to pump up the chrysalis until it bursts. Now the scrunched up butterfly begins sliding out, backwards, easing itself down carefully. Once out, it remains clinging to the chrysalis skin and immediately sets about rolling its probocis in and out. When a butterfly emerges, it's proboscis is separated into two sections, lengthwise, so it must roll it quickly in and out to join the two halves together. If it doesn't do this, it won't be able to feed.
Just after each butterfly has slid out of its chrysalis, I place a 20mm cube of foam rubber on a toothpick beside it, at the same level as the chrysalis. This gives the butterfly's feet something secure to cling onto. A chrysalis skin is very slippery and I have seen butterflies fall and not able to haul themselves back up, so I like to give them a little help. They quickly find their footing on the foam.
While all this is happening, the butterfly is pumping its wings with fluid. When the wings are pumped right out and are dry, and when the warmth of the sun comes onto the wings, the butterfly will be able to fly. They need the warmth for flight.
During this process you will notice how the feelers change from being almost laid back, down along the butterfly's body, to being straight up high and perky.
Next, the butterfly will begin a few test wing stretches - up and down, up and down.
Another 30 minutes and a few more wing stretches later, it will be ready to fly. 🦋
Click on each picture, below, to see a larger view and click through the gallery........................