Observation date: August 30, 2014
Submitted by: Ralph S. Carlson
Specimen type: Photograph
Observation notes: Returning to the site of the chrysalis seen on Thursday, I noted that this morning, Saturday 30 August, it was no longer green and opaque, but was dark and translucent at 7:25 AM. Monarchs were fluttering around the planter area. Returning at 9:58 AM, I found the chrysalis a thin, tattered shell, and four inches below it was a monarch, wings limp and rubbery, not yet ready for flight, and the proboscis still in two separate curls, yet to be fully pressed together (in zip lock fashion) so the individual could begin to feed (per a documentary I saw yesterday). Other monarchs fluttered around, as did one small queen. One monarch actually landed on the newly-emerged individual for a second, then flew off. The left side of the newly-emerged monarch appeared still partially compacted from its prior enclosure. The individual made occasional flexing of the wings at the "shoulder" area, but most of the wings simply dangled like wet cloths. Occasional movements were made by the palps at the proboscis.
Status: Resident
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: August 30, 2014
Coordinator notes: None.
