Monarch Caterpillar Changes to a Chrysalis

The annual monarch migration is underway! Should you happen to spot a monarch caterpillar impersonating the letter 'J', watch it carefully. It might change from a caterpillar (the larva) to a chrysalis (the pupa) before your very eyes!

#chrysalis #monarchbutterfly

[AngryEnby]

I used to think that caterpillars just curled up and went to sleep, and the cocoon shell formed naturally. While the truth is a bit disturbing, it's also pretty interesting.

[smaakjeks]

Apparently, the innards completely liquify when undergoing metamorphosis. The caterpillar is in a way digesting itself and making use of the resulting soup. However -- and here's the interesting thing: the butterfly can remember behaviour that the caterpillar had learned!

[shuyin]

Congratulations! Your Caterpie evolved to Metapod!

[RODALCO]

That point of attachment is pretty strong with all the movements

[TeeKayExpress]

It looks absolutely painful. Sometimes I'm glad that I'm a human being.

[BrendaMLKovacs]

I just saw this happen right before my eyes last So truly. Almost cried!!

[katiekawaii]

Something about that was deeply unsettling.

[noodlet]

I just had my monarch butterfly emerge from it's chrysalis today! Yay, one more butterfly for the world. 😃 The odds of the eggs hatching and becoming a new butterfly is dismal even with human assistance.

[ya_boi_salami]

"Will it be a girl or a boy?"
I think it's gonna be a butterfly.

[Koselill]

I saw a caterpillar about a week ago on the edge of my window. I thought about taking him down on the ground again, but decided to leave him. I open up my window the next day to find a chrysalis!! Its been there for a week and Im eager to see if I can catch it coming out <3

[yahodad]

I never cared or wondered how they did this, until now. Pretty cool. Thanks for the video

[houseofhades]

My dad brought in two of these guys only 3 days ago, we bring them fresh milkweed everyday home, and one of them just started this process! so cool.

[KB-ldjw]

Not how I expected it to form. I always thought they covered themselves. Fascinating

[Sketchy_Girlie]

I left a comment on this video 3 years ago. I have raised these little guys my whole life, and just now saw one of my little friends make his cocoon very recently. I actually got 2 late bloomers a few days ago, and one of them is making his as we speak. I’m going to try to catch it on video, and show my family and friends the fascinating process these dudes go trough!

[jamesthomas]

This is so beautifully amazing. I have two caterpillars in a container who we found had eaten all the leaves from the one and only small milkweed in the yard (note: if they are a few days from chrysalis and milkweed is gone they will eat sliced raw pumpkin).
One is just now attaching to the roof of the container to chrysalis. This has me excited to make an effort to have lots more milkweed growing in the yard.

[MegaMindyLou]

Amazing that the antenna never seem to die until the very end.

[sfuterfas]

My first caterpillar from the bunch I'm rearing just transformed into a chrysalis today! I'm such a proud mom! 😁

[delmanjustkoerdboy]

The most perfect video for a jump scare

[hectichive]

I always thought they spun a cocoon around them from silk! That's super cool but creepy! It's like in a science fiction movie where an alien is hatching! That's weird that it looks like a chrysalis is inside the bug thing or whatever.

[kantoking]

I raised them when I was in kindergarten. I saw one on the roof of the terrarium and when I turned around for a few seconds, I heard my teacher give a shriek. I quickly turned around and saw a newly for chrysalis where the caterpillar once was.