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Monarch caterpillar

Danaus plexippus

Photo by JillBlack
Published on Project Noah
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-36.9277, 174.718

Field Notes

Description:

Monarch caterpillar getting ready to turn into chrysalis. In the pupa or chrysalis stage, the caterpillar spins a silk pad on a twig or leaf, and hangs from this pad by its last pair of prolegs. It hangs upside down in the shape of a 'J', and then molts, leaving itself encased in an articulated green exoskeleton.

Habitat:

Spotted on Swan Plant

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (2)

Hi Mark they are known to migrate in winter to warmer areas e.g. to coastal areas and places where the air temperature is warmer
Hey Jill do they do any 'migrating' in NZ or just hang around one area?

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