Monarch in the making

We brought this caterpillar in the house on July 4. It was about a half-inch long on July 10.

It climbed to the top of its cage on Tuesday, July 16, and went into the "J" position that evening.

I noticed the green chrysalis formed on the morning of Wednesday, July 17, even though they're supposed to hang in the "J" position for 24 hours. Guess this one is a fast transformer.

The chrysalis is black - Friday, July 26. We should have a butterfly soon.

I took a walk and a shower and came downstairs to see a butterfly!

L got home from her mission trip about 11:30 so I picked her up, drove some of her friends home, and when we came back we decided it was time to let Bartholomew fly away. (L named it). L got him out of his jar and he held onto her finger for a while before he flew to some plants.

L got some really nice pictures of him. We're pretty sure it's a boy because of the two black dots on his lower wing. If not, L said, Bartholomew would have been a funny name choice. You can see how the wings are different from the girl we raised last year.

So pretty!

And then Bartholomew flew away. Mission successful!