You see monarch caterpillars, you see monarch butterflies — but why don't you see a monarch chrysalis? Here's what makes them tricky to find.
If you know about monarch butterflies, you’ve probably also learned about — or even witnessed! — their incredible life cycle. Take a look at milkweed plants during summer months, and you might spot an egg or a caterpillar. Look out your window for long enough, and you’re likely to eventually see a butterfly. That’s three of the four major stages accounted for… but what about the third, the monarch chrysalis?
Here’s why you might not be able to find a chrysalis, even though they’re out there in the wild. In addition, learn where, if you look hard enough and for long enough, you might be able to spot one.
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What Is a Monarch Chrysalis?
As a quick reminder, a monarch chrysalis is the transitionary stage during which a caterpillar transforms into a butterfly. When a monarch caterpillar is in chrysalis, it reforms its body from a soupy, melted-down substance to the butterfly most people would recognize.
To form a chrysalis, a caterpillar attaches itself to a structure, branch, or leaf, and then it curls into a “J” formation. Over a process that takes up to a full day, the caterpillar sheds its exterior skin and leaves behind a green protective shell meant to keep it safe as it becomes a butterfly. The caterpillar remains in chrysalis for up to two weeks. Then, the chrysalis becomes transparent and the monarch emerges.
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Why Don’t We See Monarch Chrysalises?
The essential question, though, is where these chrysalises end up. Why don’t we see them as often as we do caterpillars or butterflies? The answer is that monarch caterpillars choose their place to enter this stage carefully. Often, these places aren’t as readily accessible to humans as the underside of a milkweed leaf or a nectar flower.
If you’ve planted milkweed in your yard and are determined to find a chrysalis, you might first try looking closely at milkweed plants and nearby plants. When approaching the chrysalis stage, caterpillars can travel up to 10 yards away to find a sturdy, concealed place. Check other, non-milkweed plants, the undersides of leaves, and even outdoor furniture.
Why Can’t I Find a Chrysalis In My Yard?
If you can’t find a chrysalis despite knowing you’ve seen caterpillars on your milkweed, it might not be because you’re not looking in the right places. Tragically, few monarch caterpillars survive to the chrysalis stage, and even fewer of them emerge from chrysalis as a healthy butterfly. The survival rate for monarch caterpillars in the wild is a shocking less than 10%. Some estimates even place this number as low as 5%.
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To help more monarch caterpillars become chrysalises (and healthy butterflies!), the best thing you can do is plant milkweed and nectar-rich plants. Milkweed is the sole food source and host plant for monarch caterpillars. While you can’t stop wasps or other threats to these tiny caterpillars, providing abundant resources and shelter plants helps increase their chances of survival.
Sources
- Washington State University, “What Happens in a Chrysalis?“
- Monarch Joint Venture, “Frequently Asked Questions“
- Michigan State University, “Entomology student camps out to crack mystery of who preys on monarch eggs“
