The butterfly emerges!
| After 10-12 days of cellular reorganization in the chrysalis or pupa stage, the fully formed butterfly bursts forth headfirst into the world from the bottom of the case. The butterfly clutches the pupa case, so that it's wings hang straight down. Upon emerging, the wings are damp and wrinkled from being compressed in the pupa casing. |
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| As the butterfly hangs upside down, fluid is pumped into the veins in the wings, which also serves to straighten the wings. The butterfly turns itself "to and fro" just slightly, to help speed up the drying process. The newly emerged butterfly spends most of its first day quietly drying its wings. The wings go from being silky-soft and damp to fully dry and more resilient. |
