Hi Bev, the chrysalis will eclose in about 10-14 days. IF it's healthy and hasn't been parasitized, or perhaps found by a predator and eaten, or some other hazards that could befall the chrysalis. However, it's already beaten enormous odds to make it to this stage (as you've noticed - lots little cats, not many make it to pupate). Perhaps next year you can help them along and bring some in to raise? :-D Monarchs are a tropical species. They can't overwinter in a temperate climate. They can't even fly below approx. 50 degrees F (10 C). In North America, there are 2 primary over-wintering locations - along the coast of California, and some fir forests in the mountains of central Mexico, where they are occasionally exposed to harsh weather, but many still manage to survive. Black Swallowtails, on the other hand, ARE a temperate species, and many of the chrysalises that I have in my tank right now will probably over-winter with me (in the garage) and eclose next Spring. Amazing that they can survive snow, ice, and freezing temps outside! (PS. We are pretty smart on this forum, but the real knowledge about b-flies is on the Butterfly forum! :)

Fightingator, I am so sorry about the ants getting the chrysalis. That is heartbreaking. To watch the egg turn into a cat and then grow until it becomes a chrysalis and then to meet such a tragic end! It is heartbreaking. I have had cats pupate on the "floor" of the enclosure and eclose just fine. As long as there is something for them to crawl up on when they eclose to dry out their wings, they should be fine. Before I realized that they would be okay, I used to make a scotch tape "sling" on a stick and set the chrysalis in that, but it wasn't necessary. Hope this helps to set your mind at ease. Mechelle

MissSherry, I think I must have a smaller than normal one then because it's definitely smaller than a Monarch chrysalis. Thanks, and I will detach it like you said. It's just not at a very good spot right now. Jmcat, Ha, I can certainly believe that if they're like the BST chrysalids that started squirming when I took the lid off of the container they're on to look at them. It kind of scared me because I'm used to Monarchs and they don't do that. Thanks for the warning. Now I know to expect that. Cathy

TigerDawn - I just now reread your post about the chrysalis on a Daylily leaf. Most butterflies wander before pupating, empty their gut (purging), and then fasten themselves to something other than their host plant, to shed their skin a final time to reveal the chrysalis. Many larvae can navigate great distances before they finally find a spot to pupate. That's not to say they don't ever pupate on the host plant, but generally speaking, they do tend to go "walk-about" in the garden. OT - I'm growing about 10-12 Tomato plants, 5 peppers, several Okras (dwarf) in the ground, about 4 cukes, several squash (scallop, yellow, and Zuke), several bean varieties, a couple each of dwarf Watermelon, Canteloupe, and Pumpkin. Susan