The right plant makes all the difference; the caterpillar in the image is a Monarch caterpillar (Danaus plexippus); this photo was taken in a recently created native garden in Edgartown, MA.

Monarch caterpillars are easily identifiable by their distinctive black, white, and yellow stripes. They primarily feed on butterfly milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa), which makes them toxic to predators.

The Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) undergoes a fascinating life cycle that includes four distinct stages: egg, larva (caterpillar), pupa (chrysalis), and adult butterfly. Here’s a detailed look at each stage:

1. Egg
Description: The life cycle begins when a female Monarch lays her eggs on the underside of milkweed leaves. The eggs are tiny, cream-colored, and usually laid one at a time.
Duration: The eggs hatch in about 3-5 days.
2. Larva (Caterpillar)
Description: The caterpillar (larva) emerges and feeds on milkweed leaves once hatched. Monarch caterpillars are easily recognizable by their black, white, and yellow stripes.
Growth: The caterpillar goes through five stages of development, known as instars, shedding its skin each time it outgrows it.
Duration: This stage lasts about 10-14 days.
3. Pupa (Chrysalis)
Description: After reaching full size, the caterpillar forms a chrysalis, a green casing undergoing metamorphosis.
Transformation: Inside the chrysalis, the caterpillar transforms into a butterfly. This stage is critical as the caterpillar’s body structures are reorganized into those of an adult butterfly.
Duration: The pupal stage lasts about 10-14 days.
4. Adult Butterfly
Emergence: The adult butterfly emerges from the chrysalis with tiny, crumpled wings. It pumps fluid into its wings to expand them and waits for them to dry before it can fly.
Life Span: Adult Monarch butterflies live for about 2-6 weeks, except for the generation that migrates, which can live up to 8 months.
Migration
Unique Behavior: Monarch butterflies are known for their incredible migration, traveling thousands of miles from North America to central Mexico for the winter.