Those of us who raise caterpillars in our house have all had every imaginable situation with chrysalises. I just had a pipevine swallowtail emerge from behind my TV. It had pupated on some of the wires there. I don't know how it got out of it cage (well I do but I thought I had all of them accounted for :)). So, even if you don't provide a perfect place they are tough and manage to survive. Here are some things to consider though:

1. The container must be tall enough for the butterfly to fully stretch it's wings. All kinds of containers have been used from plastic cups, to laundry hampers, to gazebos!

2. If the chrysalis is on the bottom of the container, make sure it is not covered by anything such as sticks or paper. The emerging adult needs to be able to crawl freely. Also its wings are delicate and can be torn crawling through sticks.

3. If the chrysalis is on the bottom of the container, the emerging adult needs a place to crawl up. This can be the sides of the container if it is mesh, or it can be sticks placed in the container, or a piece of mesh. Alternatively, you can low-temp glue the chrysalis to the top of the container. Make sure to apply the glue to the top first and let it cool to the touch. Then apply the chrysalis (after it has hardened) on the side and areas that are naturally attatched. This is done by butterfly houses that get pupae sent by mail for their exhibits. There still needs to be a stick or something to crawl up, in case they fall after emerging.

4. If you have pets, or places that could harm the butterfly (open vents, etc.)the container must be secure. This prevents the new butterfly that can't fly well yet from being eaten or harmed.

5. The container should allow natural light in to help signal the butterfly when it is time to come out.

6. The container should be kept in a place that is close to the temperature outside. However, it should not be placed in direct sun if it will increase the temperature over what it would naturally be outside (think dog in a car).

7. If you are overwintering the container. It should have the same moisture levels as outside, such as when it rains or snows. Otherwise, you will have to provide that somehow (for example misting with a spray bottle).

8. Protection from ants and mice is a must. Ants and mice will eat a chrysalis. I have also seen a stink bug pierce and eat a monarch chrysalis.

9. When your butterfly emerges, you must give it time for it's wings to expand and dry. Anywhere from a few hours to 24. Usually when the butterfly starts flying around trying to escape its a good clue!

10. Take time to enjoy this wonderful part of nature.

Did I forget anything?
Elisabeth

Thanks for the advice. His current location is probably not entirely ideal, but it's about 76 degrees in there and pretty well-lit during the day. The box does have vertical sides and appears more than tall enough, especially if he climbs near the top. I don't know how well they can hang onto cardboard though, so I'll have to see if I can get a stick in there, just to give him something extra to climb on.

The bad news is, poor Henri is gone. He was the other chrysalis, the one on the rosemary, but as of this morning is no longer there. I don't know what could have snatched it off like that...maybe a bird? Now I'm hoping even more that this other one will be OK.

I often put them in a container such as an empty pot, with some paper towel or cloth material draped down the insides for the butterfly to climb up (the cardboard may be difficult for it to hold on/climb up). Making sure, though, that the material is clipped to the top of the container so it cannot fall onto the pupa, possibly hampering emergence. But yeah basically just make sure it has something to climb and it can climb high enough to fully stretch it's wings without hitting the bottom of the container. Adrian will be very, very happy.
(Usually if I find them on a branch/stick, I cut off a large enough piece of the stick that I can clip the stick to something, sometimes an indoor plant or the inside of a container. Just a few thoughts. I do wonder about Henri, usually once they are in the chrysalis they don't have so much trouble. Hmmmm...
kelly

He will be fine on his side, I have had many emerge that way who attached in weird places and I had to snip and move them to the bottom of a mesh cage. I second what Kelly said about the cardboard - I think that would be hard for him to cling to. I would say the entire container needs to be mesh, not just place a stick in there b/c he might fall off the stick and then not be able to get his footing on the cardboard. If you don't have a mesh container maybe you could attach some panythose to the insides...(?)

So sorry about Henri!! I did have a chrysalis that was laying out on a piece of foam snatched one day when I had just seen it about an hour before, then it was gone. It had to be a bird.

Thanks again for the advice. Unfortunately, it's not to be. I think he was parasitized or something. I noticed this morning that the chrysalis had turned light brown in some spots, and then later I noticed a few dark spots. I could swear I saw something dark moving inside the chrysalis, and then noticed that it was soft in the middle. I actually pulled it apart a little, and there was this worm-like thing inside...it was actually kind of horrifying. I'm kind of upset now...I guess I got kind of attached to this little guy. It's probably my biggest fear whenever one of them makes it to the chrysalis stage. I'm just glad I found out now, before whatever was in there could get out as a wasp or whatever it was going to be.

But thanks anyway, and I hope I can post here again in the future.

Oh, I am so sorry! I know how sad it feels. Maybe you can catch them from eggs next time. :-)