A male Monarch emerging from his chrysalis on June 20, 2015. After a Monarch emerges from its chrysalis, it rocks and forth, and opens and close its wings, to unfold and inflate its wings with a reservoir of fluid contained in its swollen abdomen. As the wings inflate, the body of the butterfly attains its normal proportions. Once the wings are fully inflated, the Monarch expels any excess fluid and then rests as its wings dry, which can take several hours depending on the weather.