The number of monarch butterflies spending winter in the western U.S. dropped dramatically this year, despite moves to extend ...

The caterpillar crawls away from the milkweed plant in search of a safe spot to begin the pupa stage of the monarch butterfly life cycle. It uses spinnerets near its mouth to create a tiny silken pad.

“The iconic monarch butterfly is cherished across North America, captivating children and adults throughout its fascinating life cycle ... source for monarch caterpillars, from their gardens ...