Have you ever wondered how butterflies spend the winter? Monarchs are known for their lengthy migrations, but most common species stay home through the bitter cold. A few, like mourning cloaks, hibernate as adults in log piles or under loose tree bark. But most spend the winter in an immature life stage: egg, caterpillar, or pupa. The majority spends the season as chrysalises, also known as butterfly pupae. For example, black swallowtails may have several generations per year, with the pupal stage (shown here) lasting two to three weeks in spring and summer. But those that transform in fall will most likely spend the winter in their camouflaged chrysalis.

back to Nature Notebook