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Metamorphosis

Monarch caterpillar as a J

The restless caterpillar looks for a special branch or leaf.

It glues its back legs onto its new home and hangs upside down. It has to be sure it is holding on tight.

Now the Monarch caterpillar looks like the letter J.

Scientists call this metamorphosis. It means the caterpillar is getting ready to transform into a butterfly.

Wait until you see what happens next!

Photographs courtesy of Harlen E. and Altus Aschen, Victoria Christian School, in Victoria, Texas (VCS Monarch Observations)