This is what the Monarch chrysalis looked like on 20-Sep-2018.
Monarch Chrysalis on 20-Sep-2018.
Three days ago, the butterfly was visible inside.
Monarch Chrysalis on 04-Oct-2018.
Yesterday, I saw no change and did not take a picture. Today I was out of town for most of the day. When I came back in late afternoon, the chrysalis was empty! I removed the empty and dry cover from the underside of our house siding, laid it on a table and took the following pictures.
Cover of empty chrysalis.
Cover of empty chrysalis.
Cover of empty chrysalis.
So, in this case, it took a total of 17 days before the Monarch butterfly emerged, and not 10 to 14 days as written on several Web sites about Monarch butterflies. I am disappointed to have missed the emergence of the butterfly, but I am happy that it did finally emerge, and may be on its Southern migration soon, if not already.
Here’s a photo of a Monarch butterfly, but it’s not the one from the above chrysalis.
Monarch butterfly.
neihtn 
This is so awesome…my last few blogs has been on the Caterpillar, as I watched it on the milk weed this summer, unfortunately I didn’t get to see the next stage as you did….so very beautiful and congratulations…God willing I’ll be checking for it again next year. I was looking high up, but look like yours was in the pupa pretty low down.
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The pupa was at the bottom of our house siding. Next year, I’ll be better prepared. Thank you for visiting and commenting!
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A nice ending after all … shame that you missed its entrance, bet you were disappointed..
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Overall though, I am relieved that the butterfly emerged. Thanks Julie!
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Very interesting indeed! I am sorry you missed the big occasion, but happy it came out and is happily flying around somewhere, probably not very far from you.
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This is the 4th generation of Monarchs for the year and, according to those who should know, it should be migrating to Mexico. Perhaps next year I will see its children come back to our area.
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Thanks Hien for sharing the series with us! Glad to know that the butterfly did emerge eventually – perhaps the cooling seasons had an impact on the extended duration of the metamorphosis?
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This fall, so far, has been rather warm here, above 80 °F (27 °C) during the day. Perhaps this butterfly just took its time. 🙂
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A late bloomer!
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Yay! So glad the butterfly eventually emerged in its own time. Thanks for the update. 😊
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Thank you for commenting!
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The miracle of life 🙂 Beautiful pics!
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Thank you M.B.!
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Fantastic documentation
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Thank you Diana!
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Such a poignant story, and a surprising conclusion to the tale of the chrysalis. I’m sorry you weren’t there for the emergence too, but I like the way you presented this, with photos of the emptied chrysalis and the promise that the butterfly is surely on its way south.
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Thank you Lynn! There is always next year, and by then I will have more orange milkweed, the kind the Monarchs really like.
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Great, let’s hope it will be a good year for Monarchs.
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Oh wow this series of photographs is awesome! What a shame however, that you missed the emergence of the Monarch Butterfly. So many people have taken an interest in the Monarch Butterfly and doing exactly what you are. I myself have plenty of milkweed on my wild part if our property and I have a huge butterfly bush in my Gardens strictly for the butterflies. With all of our efforts combined, they are slowly coming back and number! How exciting!
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Thank you Amy! I am really happy that you are doing more than your share for the Monarchs.
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Well documented. Thank you for sharing with us, Hien! Sorry you missed it…
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Thank you Amy!
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I’m sorry that you weren’t able to see the butterfly emerging, but at least the butterfly did survive. I thought that 10 to 14 days sounded too quick for the transformation to take place, but it’s been many years since my childhood when I studied monarchs as much as I could at the time.
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Thanks Jerry! I will try again next year, and will have to remember to never give up on these butterflies.
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Well, there was always a possibility that would happen, sorry you missed it.
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You are right. The possibility of missing its emergence was on my mind the last few days.
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Thank you for sharing this good news. I can definitely understand a bittersweet feeling that you couldn’t witness the actual emerging. But very happy the butterfly could successfully spread its wings 🙂
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My sentiments exactly! I can always try it again next year, but it is a good feeling to know this first one emerged and flew away fine.
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I pray that this Monarch butterfly will have a happy life. And, there is something to look forward to for the next season!
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Sorry you missed it, but glad you had a successful launch. May it safely reach its wintering grounds!
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Yes, may it reach where Monarch butterflies go to give us such a grand spectacle when they come back up next year!
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Wonderful photos. So glad you got to watch that process.
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Thank you Katelon!
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Wow what a cool looking series. Great series!! Beautiful!
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Thank you Judy!
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