Have you ever spotted a monarch butterfly fluttering through your garden and wondered where it came from? These bright orange and black butterflies aren’t just beautiful—they have one of the most fascinating life cycles in the insect world! In this post, we’ll take a closer look at the monarch butterfly life cycle, explore how kids can observe it up close, and share tips for raising monarchs at home or school.
With the monarch population shrinking due to climate change, deforestation, and pesticide use, this nature project will not only captivate little ones and help them appreciate science and nature, but will also help monarch butterflies thrive and survive.
Learn how to raise butterflies from caterpillar to chrysalis to butterfly!
Monarch Butterfly Life Cycle
The monarch butterfly life cycle includes four main stages: egg, caterpillar (larva), chrysalis (pupa), and butterfly (adult). This process is called complete metamorphosis, and it’s a great way for kids to learn about change, growth, and the wonders of nature.
One of the most fascinating parts of raising monarch butterflies at home is how quickly their transformation unfolds. Each stage brings something new to observe, keeping kids curious, engaged, and excited to learn more.
Caring for living creatures also helps children build a deep appreciation for nature and science. Watching the full metamorphosis—from egg to caterpillar to chrysalis to butterfly—gives them a front-row seat to one of nature’s most incredible processes. Who knows? These early experiences might even inspire the next generation of conservationists and nature lovers!
Egg (1–5 days)
Female monarch butterflies lay their eggs exclusively on milkweed plants. Eggs are ridged, cylinder-shaped, and white or yellow in color. A female monarch can lay up to 500 eggs in just 2–5 weeks! After about 3 to 5 days, the egg hatches into a very small caterpillar.
Larva/Caterpillar (10–14 days)
After hatching, the rice-sized monarch caterpillar eats its eggshell before moving onto the leaf. Over the next 10–14 days, it grows rapidly, shedding its skin several times as it gets bigger and stronger. Monarch caterpillars will molt 5 times before pupation. Each period of time between a molt is called an instar.
Monarch caterpillars are easy to spot—they have yellow, white, and black stripes and are always munching!
Pupa/Chrysalis (9–14 days)
When the caterpillar is fully grown, it finds a safe place to hang upside down and forms a green chrysalis. The pupal stage is one of the most magical stages of the monarch butterfly life cycle. Inside the chrysalis, the caterpillar transforms into a butterfly!
Adult Butterfly
Finally, the adult monarch butterfly emerges from its chrysalis. At first, its wings are soft and crumpled, but within a few hours, they dry and harden. Once ready, the butterfly flies off to continue the cycle—feeding on nectar, finding a mate, and laying new eggs.
Males monarchs have a black dot on the surface of each of their hindwings, while females do not.
How Long is the Monarch Butterfly Life Cycle
The monarch butterfly life cycle takes approximately 28 to 32 days to complete, though the exact timing can vary slightly depending on temperature and environmental conditions.
While the full process happens in about a month, monarch butterflies born at the end of summer may live longer to prepare for their incredible migration south. These special late-summer monarchs, known as the “super generation,” can live up to 8 months. This extended lifespan gives them enough time to migrate thousands of miles and begin the life cycle again the following spring.
Watch the Video
Watch this video to see each stage of the monarch butterfly life cycle up close.
How to Raise Monarch Butterflies
One of the most rewarding ways to learn about the monarch butterfly life cycle is by raising them yourself! You can collect monarch eggs or caterpillars from milkweed in your garden (or a safe, pesticide-free area) and watch each stage unfold.
STEP 1: Collect eggs from milkweed. Monarch butterflies lay eggs on milkweed, a flowering perennial. Search for monarch eggs on the underside of milkweed leaves and on the flowers and buds at the top of the plant. You may also occasionally find eggs on top of the leaves.
When you find an egg, remove the entire leaf or use scissors to cut just the portion the egg is on. If you find a small caterpillar, pinch off the entire leaf. To reduce the risk of injury and disease, handle caterpillars as little as possible.
STEP 2: Make a caterpillar hatchery. To prevent the milkweed leaves from drying out, arrange them in a container lined with a moist paper towel. When the eggs hatch, the newborn caterpillars will feed on their eggshell before moving onto the milkweed.
I tend to keep eggs and young larvae in separate hatcheries, just in case a caterpillar decides to wander to a new leaf.
STEP 3: Move caterpillar to a large habitat. When the caterpillars are large enough, move them to a spacious, well-ventilated habitat such as a small ReptiBreeze. To minimize disease, your caterpillar habitat should be cleaned often. To aid with cleaning, line the bottom of the habitat with a moist paper towel or a sheet of felt.
Always keep your habitat out of direct sunlight and provide cover during rain. I place a shallow plastic bin or garbage bag over the top of the habitat during inclement weather.
Tip: Plastic to-go cups are perfect for holding milkweed and preventing accidental caterpillar drownings. Click here for milkweed harvesting tips!
STEP 4: Care for caterpillars. Change the plant water, clean up frass (caterpillar poop), and continue replenishing the habitat with freshly rinsed milkweed.
When a monarch caterpillar is fully grown, it will leave the milkweed in search of a place to pupate. Most caterpillars choose the top of the habitat, but occasionally there are caterpillars who choose milkweed stems or the rim of the water cup.
After finding a spot, the caterpillar will spin a silk button, then attach its cremaster to the button. Next, the caterpillar will allow its body to drop into the shape of a J.
After about 1 day, the caterpillar’s skin will become dark and wrinkly. At this time, the caterpillar will shed its skin for the 5th and final time to become a chrysalis.
New chrysalids feel soft and tacky. After several hours, they become darker, harder, and smoother in texture.
STEP 5: Watch and wait. Continue caring for new caterpillars while you wait for your butterflies to emerge (eclose) from their chrysalids. About 24 hours before an adult butterfly ecloses, their wings and body become visible inside the transparent chrysalis.
STEP 6: Release your butterfly! When your butterfly emerges, its wings will be folded, floppy, and wet. The butterfly will need to hang so they can pump and dry their wings. After several hours your butterfly will be ready to fly!
What Is the Monarch Butterfly Migration?
Every year, monarch butterflies in North America migrate thousands of miles between their breeding grounds in the United States and Canada and their wintering grounds in Mexico and California. Monarchs are the only butterfly known to make a two-way migration, like birds.
There are two main populations of monarchs:
- Eastern Monarchs – These butterflies live east of the Rocky Mountains. In the fall, they fly all the way to Mexico, where they spend the winter in special mountain forests. In spring, they begin the journey north again.
- Western Monarchs – These butterflies live west of the Rocky Mountains. They fly to the coast of California and gather in trees near the ocean to stay safe and warm.
No single butterfly completes the entire round trip. It takes multiple generations to complete the full migration cycle each year.
Why Monarchs Need Our Help
Monarch butterfly populations have declined in recent years due to habitat loss, pesticide use, and changes in climate. While there have been some hopeful signs, the overall numbers remain far below what they once were. Fortunately, there are simple ways to help. Planting native milkweed and nectar-rich flowers, avoiding pesticides, and creating butterfly-friendly spaces at home or school can all support monarchs and other pollinators. Every small effort adds up and makes a difference!
Take it Further
Want to keep the learning going? Below are fun and educational enrichment activities to help deepen your child’s understanding of monarch butterflies and their fascinating life cycle. These ideas are perfect for home, classroom, or nature study time!
- Create a monarch butterfly suncatcher. Use tissue paper and laminating sheets to craft a colorful butterfly that brightens up your windows. Download one of our free printable butterfly templates or our Monarch Suncatcher template for easy crafting!
- Draw the life cycle. Encourage kids to illustrate each stage of the monarch butterfly life cycle—egg, caterpillar, chrysalis, and adult butterfly.
- Graph the timeline. Chart how long each stage takes using a simple bar graph or timeline. It’s a great way to integrate math with science!
- Learn about butterfly anatomy. Explore the different parts of a butterfly, such as the proboscis, antennae, and wing veins. You can even label a diagram or make a model.
- Read about monarch migration. Monarch butterflies travel thousands of miles to overwintering sites in Mexico. Learn why and how they make this incredible journey with the book Look to the Skies: The Magical Migration of the Monarch Butterfly by Nicola Edwards.
- Discover their role in the ecosystem. Talk about how monarchs help pollinate plants and serve as food for other animals, showing their important place in nature.
- Identify male and female monarchs. Teach kids how to tell the difference by observing the markings on their wings—males have thinner veins and two small black spots.
- Create a butterfly-friendly garden. Learn how to attract monarchs to your yard by planting nectar-rich flowers and milkweed, the only food source for monarch caterpillars.
- Explore environmental challenges. Discuss the threats monarchs face, such as habitat loss, pesticides, and climate change, and talk about how we can help.
- Study monarch habitats and climate. Find out what type of environment monarchs need to survive and thrive during different stages of their lives.
- Plant native milkweed species. Support monarch populations by planting milkweed native to your region—an essential step in creating a safe space for their life cycle to continue.
- Read a book about monarchs. There are so many good books about butterflies! Start with Monarch Butterfly by Gail Gibbons.
- Make a pollinator bath! Use a terracotta pot and saucer to make a shallow bath for bees and butterflies.
More Butterfly Life Cycle Projects for Kids
Looking for more hands-on ways to explore the butterfly life cycle with your kids? Check out these fun and creative activities:
- Butterfly Life Cycle Craft – A simple and engaging way to visualize each stage of metamorphosis.
- Life Cycle of a Butterfly Activity – Great for reinforcing science concepts through sensory play.
- Monarch Butterfly Stick Puppet Craft – Bring learning to life with these easy-to-make puppets!
- Wiggling Caterpillar Craft – A playful paper project that mimics how caterpillars move.
- Toilet Paper Roll Chrysalis Craft – Turn recyclables into a cozy home for a caterpillar in transition.
- Butterfly Life Cycle with Bricks – Use building bricks to recreate each stage in a hands-on, STEM-friendly way.
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