When ready the butterfly pushes itself out head first and holds on to the pupa casing, swinging the abdomen down and letting the crumpled wet wings hang down.  Then they pump fluid from their abdomen into their wings along the black veins, which give strength and structure to the wings.  The wings dry and harden in about three hours.  While their wings are drying, they will get rid of a reddish liquid that is waste product from their transformation. 

After emerging the new adult butterfly can be seen stretching and rolling and unrolling its long proboscis, which is like a double straw, for sucking nectar from flowers.  After the wings have been stretched and dried it is ready to take to the air for the first time.  But if it is cold, windy, or rainy the butterfly will wait until the following day to start its new life in the air.

Male monarchs are easy to identify by the spots on the hind-wings.  These are really scent packets used to attract the females.  Male veins also look much thinner than the broader and fuzzier veins of the female.  The coloration on the underside of the wings is similar to the top with the hind wing being a more golden orange, and the spots of creamy-white are more pronounced.