I had my first crysalis for this year open yesterday. It had a similar black spot. The butterfly could barely get free and one wing was deformed, and the other wing never expanded. The butterfly did live for several hours.

I expect there will be further responses from people who know more than I about this, but I thought I would share my experience.

I recently had a monarch chrysalid with black spots as well. There have also been a few recents threads about this problem. My monarch eclosed fine...

hate to say it but it looks like black death or OE to me

Doesn't look good to me either--I last a few chrysalides this year to OE, and not just ones I brought inside. I found ones outside too that had been afflicted.

If it's worse today and getting mushy, I would remove the chrysalis and put it in the freezer for a couple of days (wrapped up) and then flush it.

Tdogmom's blog has info on this. You can do a search for her blog and threads will come up that have the link to her blog. In fact, the recent thread titled "What do you see in this photo" has a link to the blog.

Sorry about your chrysalis. :(

Thanks all. I will feel it when I get home from work and see what is going on. Hmph. :(

I had one last year that had black spots on it. I think it is just fluid from when they pupate because mine eclosed just fine. Don't give up on it yet.

Susan

Some of mine had it. When they were in the j formation they had like a black liquid drop. It was strange and the first time I have ever noticed it. They kept a black spot. So far they are emerging fine. These were by my front door not raised inside by me. I am waiting to see what the next one does.

One over my front door tried to come out today. It was only able to half way emerge. It grew up on mildweed in pots by my front porch. Should I cut them down? I have 4 more still hanging green. Should I wait to see if they come out ok? My son destroyed the one that could not come out a few minutes ago.