From caterpillar to butterfly. The monarch butterfly chrysalis is green until the evening before the butterfly emerges, when it seems to turn black. In reality the chrysalis is becoming clear like glass, and the perceived black is the wings of the butterfly itself. This shows the chrysalis just moments before the butterfly emerges. Its wings are folded up inside the clear chrysalis. Photo: Gregory Cisko, CCD
The butterfly emerges from the chrysalis, wings still folded. It will still be several hours before the butterfly is ready to fly. Photo: Gregory Cisko, CCD
This is one of four monarchs that the photographer released several hours after it emerged from its chrysalis and just before it took off and started flying for the first time. The butterflies were released near the flowers by the Ramsey Auditorium entrance. Photo: Gregory Cisko, CCD