8:45 am
No hatching yet, but when I came in this morning the first chrysalis was dark with the orange and black coloration showing through. Based on previous experience we should have an adult butterfly before noon. I plan on taking it to class this morning so I can keep up with the eclosing. I'll send you a noon time report.

And....at high noon Dr. Edson sent the big news:
Well the first of Ms. Monarch's babies eclosed at 9:50 cdt during class. It's a girl. I'll wait until this afternoon to get the weight and wing length.

I had taken the chrysalis to class with me, and had it on the desk in front of the class. I was in the middle of trying to explain high and low pressure systems when she decided to eclose. So we quickly changed subjects and the class got a butterfly lesson. A couple of my students had their camera phones handy, so I think we might have some pictures.