Monarch Transformation...

We had many monarch and swallowtail (at right) caterpillars in our garden throughout August and into September. I was able to capture the amazing transformation with monarch caterpillars over a few days - and several different specimens. It makes for quite a breathtaking process and as I've said many times before, our God is a creative genius! :)

The monarch caterpillar eating a milkweed leaf.

It then spins a little thread and hangs upside down.

After a day or less, it sheds its skin.

And appears in the pupa stage.

Several hours later it is a brilliant green chrysalis, which darkens after a week or so.

A rather misshapen butterfly then emerges, and quickly pumps blood - from its enlarged abdomen - into its wings.

After several minutes, it is a magnificent monarch butterfly, ready to fly away!