skip to main content

Butterfly Garden

Monarch Chrysalis no longer attached :(

weed30 St. Louis

13 years ago

UGH!!!! I tried to move a chrysalis and failed, and now it is laying on a washcloth next to a stick. I have done this with BSTs before, but never a Monarch. Will he be ok?

I have 9 more to move. They are in an inverted pop up hamper, and I had intended to move them, something I did last year with no problems. Last year they were moved to a hard plastic container when I knew they were searching for a place to attach, and the silk was easy to gently scrape off. I then wrapped masking tape around the silk and hung them easily. I thought I could do the same thing.

Well guess what...the silk has merged with the fabric of the hamper and it does not scrape off. (remember, the hamper is upside down, so the bottom of the hamper is now the top.) The chrysalis I tried to move came off with no silk, just a tiny bit of cremaster that I can't tape.

My plan now is to cut some of the hamper fabric along with the silk, so I will be able to tape them to a stick. The reason I have to move them is because the hamper is a short wide one, and cannot be closed off at the bottom because the edges are curved. I am afraid they will eclose when I'm not here and if they find the openings, my dog will get them. STUPID ME!!! I set it up this way in the first place because last year the cats escaped out the top when I had a hamper right side up with a towel over the top.

I ordered a cage that got delivered after they'd all formed their chrysalis, so that's why I'm in this dilemma. Another reason I can't leave them in the hamper this way is if several are eclosed but only one is dry, I don't think I can get the "ready" one out without harming the others.

Thanks for reading. I really just want to know if the one on the towel will be OK and find the stick. The rest was just an "I'm Stupid" vent ;)

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (6)

nancy86
13 years ago
I'm a little confused about the situation. If you have a green Monarch chrysalis, it needs to be hanging for the butterfly to form correctly inside. I don't know what you mean about "the one on the towel...find the stick" because a chrysalis is not going to find a stick. Is this creature still in caterpillar form? A caterpillar could find the stick. Hope this helps! I tried my best!
weed30 St. Louis
Original Author
13 years ago
Sorry, I was a little panicked when I wrote that post :)

The chrysalis I am worried about was hanging until I tried to move it this morning. It is very close to emerging - the chrysalis is clear and I can see the wings. I have it laying on a washcloth, thorax side up, with several sticks very close. I am hoping when it ecloses, it will crawl up the stick to hang. Black Swallowtails seem to be good at doing this, but I'm unsure about a Monarch. I've never had this happen with a Monarch, so I've only seen them hang from their empty chrysalis to dry.

I don't have a glue gun, and I'm afraid to leave and go get one - what if it ecloses while I'm gone and can't get onto the stick? I keep checking on it, thinking I can gently help it to the stick after emerging if needed. When necessary to move baby cats, I use a clean soft paintbrush. I have a slightly larger one, (1/2" wide), that I think will work well to move him/her without hurting anything.
Related Discussions
Monarch Chrysalis Question
Q
Comments (7)
I believe light also adds to the mix as well. I have my hatchery lights on a 14 hour on an ten hour off cycle and I'm hatching out monarchs in les than seven days. Not sure what else could cause the early development. If that is the case less light exposure may be the link to slower develpoment. Just a guess on my part.... hey kid
...See More
Monarch Chrysalis problems
Q
Comments (7)
That chrysalis looks pretty normal to me too - this summer I raised 20 Monarchs from mostly eggs to pupae. 19 out of 20 eclosed successfully. One had kind of a brownish tint to the pupa, and when it eclosed it fell to the bottom of the container and was there for an hour or so before I noticed it. By that time, the wings were all mangled and so I euthanized it. Interestingly, it was the only one that pupated on a stick and not on the top of the container, where I had taped across some paper towel. I think this one was sickly anyway (possibly OE), if it didn't have strength to cling to the chrysalis or the stick, and expand and wiggle its wings. Hope you get a beautiful Monarch or two from the chrysalides. For me, the most exciting moments are when they pupate, when they eclose, and then when they fly off!
...See More
Found Monarch Chrysalis
Q
Comments (4)
embee, don't feel bad. Remember, you took it in under the best of intentions. The fact is, even those that are better informed about how to raise butterflies and moths lose a large percentage of them when they bring them in to 'protect' them. It's absolute 'carnage' over there in the butterfly forum some weeks! It really takes some know-how to succeed. They are simply fragile insects. There is a large possibility that your butterfly would have done the same thing in the wild. Know, too, that moths and butterflies in ALL stages of development are prey to a host of diseases, predators and parasites. It is my own personal belief that Nature does a far, far better job at driving the bus than humankind, and I pretty much let Nature take her course. If I were to happen on a butterfly chrysalis, I would leave it be, but keep an eye on it. I've had many great experiences that way....my favorite with a Giant Swallowtail Butterfly. However, I have also seen some fat and happy birds make off with them, too. That does not disturb me at all. It sounds like you have an acute love of the natural world, and the more you learn about it...the more fascinating it all becomes. Don't feel bad about this experience; just learn from it.
...See More
Queen or Monarch Chrysalis?
Q
Comments (10)
Jean: I can't measure the Monarchs as they all JUST eclosed pre-dawn -- 8 new butterflies are drying their wings as I type. :) The Queen chrysalises pictured above are in the same enclosure, so I don't want to disturb the newly emerged Monarchs. However, the length/size of my final Queen chrysalis (formed yesterday) is typical of the others, IIRC; and it's measuring just shy of 3/4" (excluding the cremaster): HTH Later today, after the Monarchs have taken flight, I'm happy to measure whatever Monarch chrysalises might be left, just to compare.
...See More
tdr4
13 years ago
I'm not sure that it can get out without hanging. I have used thread to tie the end of the silk on a stick before.Do you have any silk left at the end?
weed30 St. Louis
Original Author
13 years ago
Not a bit of silk. I am trying candle wax now. I dripped a little pile, waited until it was cool but still soft, and gently pressed it against the remaining cremaster. I am waiting until the wax completely hardens to put it upright. Cross your fingers :)
weed30 St. Louis
Original Author
13 years ago
SUCCESS!!! After the wax dried, I taped the whole thing to a stick. The butterfly eclosed about 15 minutes later. Not sure if it's a girl or a boy yet, still drying its wings. I have decided not to move the rest of the gang individually, this was stressful enough. I am going to cut the entire area of the hamper fabric that they are hanging from and attach it to the top of my new cage. I will be posting later about my new cage, by the way. It's pretty cool.

Here are some photos of the candle wax fix:

{{gwi:480408}}

{{gwi:480410}}
tdr4
13 years ago
Great news and I agree, cut the whole top out!

Related Stories

GARDENING FOR BUTTERFLIES Be a Butterfly Savior — Garden for the Monarchs

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

Keep hope, beauty and kindness alive in the landscape by providing a refuge for these threatened enchanters

GARDENING GUIDES Help Fuel the Monarch Migration With These 6 Prairie Plants

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

Try these nectar-rich beauties and help autumn monarchs

FALL GARDENING What Monarch Butterflies Taught Me About Garden Design

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

Thinking like a butterfly leads to fresh perspectives in the garden and in life

GARDENING GUIDES These Hummingbird-Attracting Native Plants May Surprise You

By Susan J Tweit

These flowers, vines and shrubs offer shelter and food supplies that keep hummingbirds around longer

GARDENING GUIDES Great Design Plant: Milkweed

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

Quit cringing. This not-weed plant is a sight to behold in the garden, has a delicious vanilla scent and is a magnet for butterflies

GARDENING GUIDES 6 Plants That Beat Butterfly Bush for the Wildlife Draw

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

It's invasive, a nonnative and a poor insect magnet. Check out these better alternatives to butterfly bush in the garden

GARDENING GUIDES Great Design Plant: Golden Alexanders for Early Spring Color

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

Get sunny flowers while other garden growers are still asleep, with this adaptable prairie plant beloved by butterflies

GARDENING GUIDES 6 Steps to Creating Your Butterfly Garden

By Debbie Ballentine

Encourage these fanciful winged beauties to visit your garden while helping restore their fragmented habitat

GARDENING GUIDES Attract Hummingbirds and Bees With These Beautiful Summer Flowers

By Annie Thornton

Roll out a welcome mat for pollinators to keep your landscape in balance and thriving

THE ART OF ARCHITECTURE Finding the Perfect Home for a New House

By Falon Mihalic

Sun, soil, water, topography and more offer important cues to siting your house on the land

Sponsored

A.I.S. Renovations Ltd.

15 Reviews

Custom Craftsmanship & Construction Solutions in Franklin County

More Discussions

?what to do with this little guy?

3