Oh no! Infected Monarch Chrysalis - Experts please...
I picked a 2nd or 3rd instar monarch caterpillar off a plant at a nursery. As soon as it made its chrysalis, I put it in its own container just in case. I am glad I did. It started to darken normally yesterday. This morning I could see the wings, and the chrysalis still looked normal. Then about an hour ago I looked and something was majorly wrong.
I put it in the freezer immediately since I know there's no hope, but want to know what the problem was. It's not OE, I've had that before. I'm thinking chalcid wasps? I'm also very worried about the other 40 - 50 Monarchs I have.... eggs, cats and a few new chrysalids.
Comments (6)
Daisy Zone 6b
4 years agolast modified: 4 years agoUggggggh. I am now pretty sure it was a chalcid wasp. I looked at another one of my chrysalises - this one formed just a few days ago. I read online to look for black dots on the chrysalis, indicating where the wasp injected the eggs, and there they are :(
I am going to take any of the caterpillars that are now looking to attach and move them to a safe container that has the vents covered with cut up pantyhose. I'll give them a quick water rinse first to knock off any lurking wasps.
My other caterpillars, BSTs and TSTs, will also be moved to safe containers.
I'm so bummed about this, but at least I learned something new and know what to look for. I would have had a heart attack if hundreds of wasps came out of my chrysalises!
Click photo to enlarge. Those random small black dots do not belong there :(
If I have the courage, I will cut open the first chrysalis in this post and take photos. I will leave it in the freezer for a few more days to ensure that anything in there is dead before I cut it open!
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terrene