This Monarch is nectaring on host milkweed at El Dorado Park, August 5, 2005.

Freshly emerged in my garden, May 25, 2010.

A male Monarch at El Dorado Park in a patch of milkweed, August 5, 2005. Males have thinner black lines along the wing veins and a patch of special black scales on each hindwing.

A female Monarch that had recently emerged from her pupa in my garden in Long Beach, October 26, 2005. One benefit of raising them yourself - fresh models!

Starting in 2005 I began planting plenty of Milkweed in my garden to attract Monarchs. This worked well, and I have watched them go through their life cycle many times. This is a Monarch egg on Milkweed.

A first instar Monarch caterpillar that had recently emerged from an egg. April 13, 2011.

Second instar Monarch larva on the same plant as above, April 17, 2011.

A Monarch caterpillar on its foodplant. The milkweed I use is currasivica.

A Monarch pupa.

Another Monarch pupa not long before the emergence of the adult butterfly.