Date: 08/11/2015

Number: 1

Tuesday Aug 11, 2015, 945AM. I saw a very large Monarch caterpillar attached to the siding of my back exterior wall to my apartment, a mere 14 inches from the nearest Common Milkweed plant. It was curled up and I wondered (because I don't have a great deal of experience with the various stages of growth) if it was a sick caterpillar, or if I should place on a plant. I decided not to touch it because I know it is a difficult call touching wild animals that are newborns because the human scent issue becomes problematic for the mother. I know caterpillars are kind of islands when thinking of their entire existence; the egg is laid and then the larvae/caterpillar is on its own.

Regardless, I didn't touch the caterpillar, then I took a nap, because I work overnights. I woke up and later went outside to the same spot around 415pm Tues Aug 11, 2015 and found a green wrapping (I assume this is the chrysalis - I'll have to get caught up on the proper terminology). So in a matter of 6 hours or less the adult caterpillar completed changed its existence.

Now I am simply observing this chrysalis as the days pass. The chrysalis is hanging from the underside of one piece of housing siding. What an odd place to transform into a butterfly, very unnatural, but I assume the butterfly should have no issue.

columbia, MO

Latitude: 38.9 Longitude: -92.2

Observed by: philip
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