After two weeks or so, the chrysalis goes from green to charcoal, and then
becomes translucent, and you can see the wing pattern. At this point, the butterfly
is very close to emergence.
After two weeks or so, the chrysalis goes from green to charcoal, and then
becomes translucent, and you can see the wing pattern. At this point, the butterfly
is very close to emergence.
The crack begins as a slit across the bottom of the chrysalis, followed by splitting
up the backside, as the butterfly's head begins to push out.
After resting for about a minute, the butterfly grips the chrysalis skin with
its legs and does a half-somersault to wind up hanging.
The wings are small and wrinkly,
and the body is quite fat. Fluid from the body will be pumped into the wings to inflate
them. The butterfly twists back and forth to help the process along.
After a few hours of drying, the hatchling is ready to fly.
Next: nothing more
All images herein are Copyright 2004, by Roy Johnson. Please do not use them without express permission.