Monarchs in the Making: A Local Legend's Lasting Impact

In Milanville, Pennsylvania, a local legend named Ed Wesely dedicated his life to studying and tagging monarch butterflies. His Butterfly Barn was a hub for monarch enthusiasts, and after his passing in 2021, his legacy lives on through the community.

The author of this piece credits Ed with sparking their interest in monarchs and introducing them to their own daughter, who loves observing caterpillars transform into beautiful butterflies. The process begins when a larva eats milkweed leaves, growing up to three inches long before forming a chrysalis around its body.

Within five to seven days, the chrysalis will turn black, and a new monarch butterfly will emerge, sporting iconic red-and-black wings. These incredible creatures migrate as far as Mexico in the fall and return north in the spring, laying eggs on milkweed along the way.