Cabbage White

These chrysalides were all formed in July. They come in a variety of shades from bright green to almost-white even though the caterpillars shared the same food plants.

A monarch butterfly's chrysalis stays basically the same jade green with gold highlights for a week or more. The last day before the butterfly emerges, the chrysalis appears to turn almost black as the butterfly's characteristic black body with orange and black wings becomes visible inside. In contrast, it is easy to see the cabbages' white wings within the chrysalides even though it will be several days before the butterflies are ready to emerge.