How Do You Witness Monarch Butterfly Metamorphosis At Shenandoah National Park?
As the season wanes, Monarch caterpillars, who have been spending much of the summer dining on milkweed plants, find a protective shelter in which to spin their cocoon. The mountains of Appalachia, specifically Shenandoah National Park in Virginia are an accessible location in which to see all the stages of Monarch metamorphosis. When camping at Shenandoah on a warm autumn afternoon, you can see caterpillar leftovers on the milkweed leaves, watch the caterpillar’s slow steady ascent beneath the eaves of a house and watch the spinning begin. By simply walking around the structure, one can see over fifty chrysalises in various stages of development, from the spinning to the shell, providing a great learning experience for the kids. Make reservations at the Big Meadows Campground. Though the caterpillars aren’t selective about which campground to morph, Big Meadows is the largest and also offers other weekend activities. Fly into Washington D.C. and take I-66 from the Beltway (I-95) west
