Monarch Butterfly

Hello, I am a Monarch Butterfly. My life started as a tiny, round egg sitting on a big green leaf. When I hatched, I was a very, very small caterpillar that was pale green or grayish-white without stripes. I was so hungry all the time! The only food I wanted to eat was my special leaf, called a milkweed leaf. All day long I would go munch, munch, munch on the tasty green leaves. Eating helped me grow bigger and stronger.

After I ate lots of milkweed leaves, I grew much bigger and it was time for a big change. I found a safe spot and hung upside down from a branch. I shed my final skin, revealing the pupa beneath, which is called a chrysalis. I rested inside for a little while, undergoing metamorphosis, getting ready for my next adventure. One sunny day, I was ready. I pushed my way out of my chrysalis. I was not a stripy caterpillar anymore. I was a butterfly. I had beautiful, big wings that were bright orange and black. I sat very still to allow my new wings to expand and dry in the warm sun. Then, I flew for the very first time.

Now that I can fly, I have a very important job. I visit lots of colorful flowers to drink their sweet juice, which is called nectar. As I fly from one flower to the next, I transfer pollen between flowers as it adheres to my body, including my legs and proboscis, during nectar feeding. This helps new flowers grow. Soon, I will go on a very long trip to a warm, sunny place for the winter. By helping flowers, I make the world a more colorful and beautiful place for everyone.