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Life Cycle of Monarch Butterfly

South Miami, Florida

Life Cycle of Monarch Butterfly eggs larva J chrysalis 1st Out 2nd Out 3rd Out adult and egg

In our back yard, Nancy captured images throughout the life cycle of the Monarch Butterflies (Danaus plexippus). It starts with an egg on milkweed (Image 1). That lasts about four days. The five instars (or molts) of the larval stage (including Image 2) last for about fourteen days to when the caterpillar moves off the milkweed and attaches itself to some fairly rigid, inconspicuous object (they can travel ten to twenty feet from the milkweed to do this). After pupating, the pupa (Image 4) spends ten to fourteen days inside the chrysalis (closer to ten here in Florida because of our climate). Every day the chrysalis becomes a little darker, starting as a nice lime green with gold trim, as in the fourth image, and becoming steadily darker until it becomes completely black. The next morning the butterfly emerges (Images 5, 6, & 7). The adult (Image 8) will last usually two to six weeks. The fourth generation of the year, born in September, will live six months so they can last through the migration. Here in South Florida we have a resident population that does not migrateinfo.

For more information on monarch butterflies, check out:
Pupating Monarch, which shows the transition between the 3rd and 4th images,
Emerging Monarch, which shows the transition between the 4th and 5th images, and
Monarch Butterfly On Tropical Milkweed, which is the 8th image in this group.

For information on the life cycle of other butterflies, check out:
Atala Butterfly, which describes Nancy's Atala image, and
Giant Swallowtails, which describes their life cycle and compares to other butterflies, and
Zebra Heliconian Butterflies, which discusses Nancy's photograph of Florida's state butterfly.

rev: 8/2019

To order a print of this image, hit the button to the left. Before you do, you may want to check the maximum size estimates or what's currently in stock below. Each item in stock has its own order button.

Photographic details: Eight images were taken over 100 days. All used Canon EOS 30D camera w/ EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM lens.

Image Flash? Focal length Program Aperture Shutter ISO
1: Eggs No 400mm Shutter priority f/10 1/1600 sec 800
2: Caterpiller No 375mm Shutter priority f/18 1/250 sec 800
3: Beginning to pupate No 400mm Shutter priority f/5.6 1/320 sec 100
4: Chrysalis No 400mm Shutter priority f/14 1/640 sec 800
5: Newly emerged butterfly No 400mm Aperture priority f/5.6 1/500 sec 400
6: Expanding wings No 400mm Aperture priority f/5.6 1/800 sec 400
7: Still expanding Yes 400mm Aperture priority f/5.6 1/250 sec 100
8: Adult butterfly No 320mm Shutter priority f/8 1/1250 sec 800

Print details: maximum size Medium Printed Estimated (In-house)
  Fine Art Paper 20" x 16" 51" x 41"
  Canvas N/A 68" x 54"S (47" x 371/2")

Currently In Stock

Although we can print to your specifications any size up to the above limits to the nearest 1/16" with any mat and moulding combinations, the below prints are available immediately:

Print Number   Description Price (includes sales tax & shipping)  
Mounted:
(#2)S Mounted Lifecycle mounted 20"x16" print (outside 20"x16") $90
 
Framed:
#1 Framed Life Cycle 1 framed 20"x16", black mat with step corners, regular glass, black frame (outside 271/2"x231/2") $291


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Although there is no signature or title on the print, a number has been set aside for this print and its number will appear on the Certificate Of Authenticity.