Carlos the Caterpillar: The Pupa Stage - Part 1

Well, it happened! Carlos made his chrysalis, and he made it in the same day that I took the pictures of him hanging upside down. I'm so mad at myself that I didn't catch the process on film. I've witnessed a Monarch turning into its chrysalis twice, and next to child birth, I think it's one of the most amazing sites ever. I've witnessed it, but still can't wrap my mind around how by shedding their skin, they make this hard shell and then over a week or two, turn into a butterfly...amazing. Here are the pictures of Carlos in his chrysalis.

Here is the skin that he shed.

Only about a week before we find out if Carlos is really a Carlos or is he a Carla? I don't know! Only two little black dots on the back of the Monarch's wings will tell us. If there are dots, it's Carlos. If there aren't, it's Carla!