Monarch Butterflies

All photos © Paul Hafner     

(Click on any thumbnail to view a larger version.)

monarch	monarch (female) (heavy black veins)	monarch (female) (heavy black veins)	monarch (male) (thin veins)	monarch (male) (thin veins)
mating	mating	ovipositing
2 caterpillars: just after hatching and just before pupating	caterpillar	caterpillar	the monarch's new and old clothes
young caterpillar: when they feel threatened they abseil on a thread of silk	caterpillar and nearly mature pupa (also:eggs)	caterpillars galore!
wasp	wasp, eating larva	wasp, at home	wasp, sad ending
caterpillar getting ready to pupate	caterpillar shortly before pupating (limp 'feelers')	caterpillar, bursting to pupate	caterpillar, bursting to pupate
developing chrysalis	developing chrysalis	chrysalis	chrysalis
emerging butterfly	emerging butterfly	emerging butterfly	additional hatching pictures
new monarch (male)	new monarch (male: thin veins, black dot)	monarch wing	Christoph and friends

Some information about monarchs relevant to NZ

Christchurch City Council has published an interesting pamphlet on Monarch Butterflies - Where do they go in winter?

MonarchWatch

Monarch Butterfly Sanctuary Foundation

• Herta's Monarchy of the 2003/2004 season

• Monarch hatching from chrysalis