Actually, it looks like he/she decided to hold out, if that is possible, i can still see the black stripe through the chrysalis, but it doesn't appear to be getting anymore transparent, we had a little snow night before last, maybe that is what changed his mind! But, yes, they are totally unpredictable, and the only species i have ever raised, which came about by accident, lol. I was thinking about Monarchs, and how I would like to raise them, not sure what the correct hostplant (i know milkweed) species would be for my area, like what type of milkweed would do well in this climate, and do not know if we even get many Monarchs here in my area, i do believe I have seen a a few though. I have read a lot of posts on here about Monarchs and OE, and would be worried because I don't know if I could handle any of them being sickly, it would break my heart. thanks!

Thanks! I am thinking I am going to go ahead and wait another 24hrs, lol. I wish the cage was here already, lol. The other cat stopped wandering and started doing his normal eating and sitting on a leaf thing. I guess he decided he wasn't quite ready, he seems fine, he's eating a LOT! The day he was wandering so much, I had accidentally touched his head with his new leaf when i was putting it in his box, and he stuck those "horns" out, which was the first time any of them had done so indoors, I didn't realize what an awful, lingering smell that is until then!! I wonder if that was the reason he was pacing around and acting so anxious for the rest of the night? i didn't think that smell would ever go away, lol. I can't imagine how any bird or other predator with a sense of smell would eat one of these guys after smelling that!!

Also, do hatchlings sometimes skip the egg casing meal and jump straight into munching on leaves instead? I have two cats whose egg casings are still untouched, but they appear to be eating leaves and have little bits of frass underneath the leaves they are on, so I was just wondering if they can survive without eating the egg casing as long as they are eating leaves. thanks

Hi, I have had some experience with painted lady butterflies. I order the caterpillars from a science company so my Kindergarten class can experience the life cyle of butterflies. It is not uncommon for the chrysalis to fall off from where it attaches itself. This past school year, we had at least 4 out of 20 that did not adhere properly. All four emerged just fine. I find most casualties occur at the late caterpillar stage (when they are beginning to form a chrysalis). Occasionally, when a butterfly emerges its wings are malformed and it does not do well. However, in all the years I have done this science activity with students, I have never seen a butterfly not emerge from a formed chrysalis. Most of the time the chrysalis will shake if it senses someone around/danger. I don't think that is always the case (never tested that). Also how far do you think the chrysalis fell from? In our class this year the butterflies emerged over a span of 7 days so no worries if it emerges on a different day than others. Good luck and hope you get your health butterfly soon. Carol