Monarch butterflies lay their eggs on the Milkweed plant. The eggs hatch 3-6 days after they are laid. The caterpillar is as tiny as a pen head when it comes out of the egg. Within a couple of weeks the caterpillar is about 2 inches long. It takes 3-4 weeks for a caterpillar to make the pupate and 9-14 days to emerge as an adult butterfly.

Pair of Monarch Butterflies

Very tiny Monarch eggs are laid on Milkweed plants

Eating the leaves from a Milkweed Plant

An empty chrysalis (KRIS-uh-liss)