A female carefully attaches an egg to the underside of a milkweed leaf
The ribbed egg will hatch in four days
After eating it's eggshell the caterpillar will eat leaves for two weeks
Ready to change from larva to pupa
Fifth and last caterpillar skin splits to reveal pupa
Wiggling pupa shows future wings beginning to form
This chrysalis still has old skin attached and has changed shape as new wings expand
After ten days new wings can be seen through the clear chrysalis
Legs and proboscis are seen in this front view, butterfly nearly ready to emerge
Free at last! New adult stretches limp wings which harden in two hours for first flight
Proboscis is used to suck nectar from flowers to fuel remaining weeks of life
After 7-10 days adults are ready to mate and begin the cycle again
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A female carefully attaches an egg to the underside of a milkweed leaf