Monarch Wings Over Time
When spring arrives, monarchs that spent the winter in Mexico have been alive for 6-8 months. Their wings have changed dramatically. What do wings look like as they get older and what causes the changes?
![New and Fresh When a monarch emerges from its chrysalis, it's born with vivid orange wings in pristine condition.](/sites/default/files/styles/article_featured_image/public/2017-05/1408749410.full_.jpg?itok=-pknTufD)
New and Fresh
When a monarch emerges from its chrysalis, it's born with vivid orange wings in pristine condition.
![Old and Worn Wings that begin as fresh as a flower become dull, tattered, and torn over time. What happens?](/sites/default/files/styles/article_featured_image/public/2017-05/1459270008.full_.jpg?itok=1_kRPTn7)
Old and Worn
Wings that begin as fresh as a flower become dull, tattered, and torn over time. What happens?
![Rough Encounters Over the course of a butterfly's life, its wings can be scratched by thorns, bristles, branches, grasses or anything sharp it encounters.](/sites/default/files/styles/article_featured_image/public/2017-05/1459267902.full_.jpg?itok=PFGCjwbL)
Rough Encounters
Over the course of a butterfly's life, its wings can be scratched by thorns, bristles, branches, grasses or anything sharp it encounters.
![Weather Wear Wings can be damaged by wind, hail, snow, or rain. This female's forewings were tattered in a storm. The wind may have tossed her around or she may have been struck by flying debris.](/sites/default/files/styles/article_featured_image/public/2017-05/monarch.butterfly.wings_.1459266903.jpg?itok=XL6eQapU)
Weather Wear
Wings can be damaged by wind, hail, snow, or rain. This female's forewings were tattered in a storm. The wind may have tossed her around or she may have been struck by flying debris.
![Narrow Escapes Sometimes the tears or scratches on a wing show evidence of a predator. The V-shaped scratch on this female's hind wing was likely made by the beak of a bird.](/sites/default/files/styles/article_featured_image/public/2017-05/monarch.butterfly.wings_.lpb_.jpg?itok=CYzcgf0C)
Narrow Escapes
Sometimes the tears or scratches on a wing show evidence of a predator. The V-shaped scratch on this female's hind wing was likely made by the beak of a bird.
![Sticky Situations A butterfly may escape a spider's web but its wings may be damaged by the struggle. The sticky silk threads can remain clinging, too.](/sites/default/files/styles/article_featured_image/public/2017-05/monarch.butterfly.wings_.1442614962.jpg?itok=cMUsZ6lt)
Sticky Situations
A butterfly may escape a spider's web but its wings may be damaged by the struggle. The sticky silk threads can remain clinging, too.
![Losing Color After many scrapes, scratches, nicks, and tears, a monarch no longer appears bright orange.](/sites/default/files/styles/article_featured_image/public/2017-05/monarch.butterfly.wings_.1487467656.jpg?itok=Qei3L34-)
Losing Color
After many scrapes, scratches, nicks, and tears, a monarch no longer appears bright orange.
![Magnified Wing The surface of a monarch's wing is covered with thousands of tiny, flat, colorful scales. As the monarch loses these scales, it loses its color.](/sites/default/files/styles/article_featured_image/public/2017-05/monarch.butterfly.wing_.scales.gonzalez.raul_.jpg?itok=L2F6VyhM)
Magnified Wing
The surface of a monarch's wing is covered with thousands of tiny, flat, colorful scales. As the monarch loses these scales, it loses its color.
![Wings Show Age The color and condition of a monarch's wings reveal its age. The young butterfly is vividly colored. The light-colored monarch is 7 months old and has lost most of its scales.](/sites/default/files/styles/article_featured_image/public/2017-05/monarch.butterfly.wings_.aschen.jpg?itok=2sxeOaQX)
Wings Show Age
The color and condition of a monarch's wings reveal its age. The young butterfly is vividly colored. The light-colored monarch is 7 months old and has lost most of its scales.