Essay On Majestic Winged Monarch Butterfly

From larva to a majestic winged monarch butterfly, the transformation a caterpillar undergoes in its quest to become a butterfly is truly unique. In such process a sixteen legged pest morphs into a beautiful butterfly. Though a beautiful sight, what a caterpillar actually goes through on this journey is quite gruesome. Many wonder how this 180 degree transformation is possible, but broken down it is much simpler to comprehend. Monarch butterflies lay their milky white eggs on milkweed, insuring their offspring will have food upon hatching. The eggs patiently house and develop the larvae for four to six days before the young caterpillars break free. Freshly hatched from its egg a caterpillar is famished and on the hunt for food. The larva inhales milkweed leaves bits at a time. During this stage monarch caterpillars are able to eat their bodyweight in milkweed a day. A monarch caterpillar becomes fully grown at two inches long. Depending on how many leaves each caterpillar stuffs itself with it can take nine to fourteen days to reach its full growth. While growing at this rapid pace a monarch caterpillar sheds its skin five times. Their body releases a hormone called ecdysone instructing the larvae to moult. As the caterpillar grows it outgrows it’s skin, new layers are readily awaiting the larva’s growing body. Fully grown, the monarch …show more content…
The monarch butterfly’s wings at first appear small, shriveled, and insufficient. For the next hour the vulnerable butterfly clings to it’s empty chrysalis, unable to fly. Hemolymph, the blood-like substance of insects, is pumped through the butterfly's body as it adapts to it’s surroundings. The same substance called hemolymph rushes to the insect's wings, enlarging them and making them strong. It only takes a short hour for the monarch butterfly’s wings to strength and dry before the creature is