Monarch caterpillars feed on the milkweed plants at the Pine Cove Water District building. Monarch butterflies go through four stages during one life cycle and through four generations or life cycles in one year. The four stages of the monarch butterfly life cycle are the egg, the larvae (caterpillar), the pupa (chrysalis) and the adult butterfly. The Monarch can produce four generations, or four different butterflies, which each pass through these four stages during one year. The fourth generation of monarch butterflies does not die after two to six weeks; instead, this generation migrates to warmer climates such as Mexico and California. This generation will live for six to eight months until it is time to start the whole process over again. Photo by Doris LombardAfter about two weeks, the caterpillar attaches itself to a stem or a leaf using silk and transforms into a chrysalis (left). The chrysalis transforms or metamorphoses to become an adult butterfly that emerges in about 10 days. Photo by Doris Lombard
