one of my butterflies died today =(

[fl_mariposa]

It was so sad. It was taking an especially long time to emerge from it's chrysalis, and when it finally did, it seemed to have it's bottom half stuck inside. I looked vainly for help online, and it died 10 minutes later. Any ideas why this would happen? It was so awful.

[Keith Petrosky]

Did you try letting it grab onto your finger, then pulling gently? It might have just been stuck. Sad news though.

[fl_mariposa]

I put a stick right under it, so it had something more than smooth plastic to grab onto. It didn't seem to help though. I guess, though, out of the 40+ caterpillars/pupas I have, it's probably not rare for a few to have problems.

[Megathymus ursus]

My guess is it was sick. Maybe a high OE load. If it is bad enough I think the abdomen can be cemented inside.