Monarch Butterfly Hatching

Photos I took of a Monarch butterfly hatching from its chrysalis, 16 April 1983.

These were taken over a half-hour period, except for the first which was taken about 1 hour prior to "first movements".

Click on any image to see a higher resolution version.

Click here for an animated view.

monarch01.jpg
Just prior to emerging 		monarch02
We have movement! 		monarch03
What's that camera doing there? 		monarch04
Push! This is hard work!
monarch05
Time for a rest! 		monarch06
Making progress! 		monarch07
Got to get a grip on something! 		monarch08
Whoops!
monarch09
There, that's the hard part over! 		monarch10
Now to pump these wings up! 		monarch11
Getting there! 		monarch12
Yippee, a successful hatching!

Animation of the hatching

Click on image for a higher resolution version (714 kb animated GIF)