Moved chrysalis and butterfly came out crumpled

[texas butterfly]

I tried my first chrysalis move and butterfly came out crumpled. It is trying to flap its wings.

Butterfly looks active and is hanging on top of tent habitat as to be expected.

Butterfly was in smaller chamber with other cats and then pupa'd in small chamber.
I thought cat was large and healthy.

It had been in PUPA stage for at least 4 or 5 days. I believe it was two nights ago that I moved it. The pupa had not started turning dark yet.

Other cats were moved to tent before the J: move. And they came out fine.

I did a two inch accidental drop, was that enough to hurt butterfly. I laid chrysalis on edge for a few minutes as I applied a small dot of glue to the black stub.

Everything seems to have gone fine except for the small drop.

Any suggestions? Unfortunately, I don't have a mister sprayer since that is probably the next thing that I would try.

Thanks for suggestions.

I've tagged 35 butterflies so far in two days. This is the 1st one that has came out wrong.

Thanks again....

[Mona Miller]

I use the squirt bottles in the cleaning section of Lowes or pick them up at the grocery store. You can adjust those down to a mist. It doesn't have to be that fine.

If the pupae/chrysalis has hardened--give it at least two days, then you should be able to spray or you can just wet it. I've even wet my hands and rubbed that on the silk. Silk just need to be wet and then wait a few seconds and pull it. It is important that when you transfer to make sure there is enough room for them to expland their wings. I use net containers so if they fall they have a chance to pull themselves back up and climb back up to inflate their wings. I've dropped pupae from up to 4 ft, but on carpet or the ground. Did it break?

What type of glue are you using? That might be the problem. They use silicone at the butterfly exhibit to glue pupae. You can also use a cool type hot glue gun. Be careful don't get too much of the top in the glue. Just the top of the cremaster.

http://www.butterflyfunfacts.com/images ... hree.6.jpg
Gluing cremaster
http://www.butterflyfunfacts.com/gluepupae.php
Gluing pupae