chrysalis sticking to face of eclosed Monarch

[maryeleek]

A newly eclosed butterfly has a tiny part of the chrysalis stuck to it's face and a portion of one of it's little wings is also bent. He tries to excerise his wings and is grabbing hold of the edge of the container but even after misting the chrysalis with water, it is not letting go.

Should I let him hang a while and see if it finally lets go on it's own. I took long needle nosed tweezers and just held the chrysalis, so maybe he could exert a little pressure himself and hoped it might pop free but it didn't.

These are little guys that began their life outside and I brought them in after they had grown some. They didn't get a good start as another had it's wings badly bent and three had the strings when they went to form their J's. This is heartbreaking and depressing. I feel so badly for these little guys.

Anybody have a suggestion as to best way to handle the little guy who is stuck? I don't want to hurt him.

Mary

[maryeleek]

After further inspection, it appears the chrysalis is stuck on the front right side about where his front right leg is attached to it's little body. It is attached to a very tiny spot but it must really be stuck. Oh my. If I could snip it with surgical sissors just a smidge away from it's body, do you think it would just fall away one day? Of course, this is assuming the little guy can fly.

Mary

[Mona Miller]

Spray with water and let it soften. It is amazing how the water causes that type of tissue to expand. Then tease gently. Don't pull too hard. Snip if you have to, but make the cut rounded and the less cutting the better.

[maryeleek]

Hi Mona,

Thank you for taking the time to help. I did spray water and it did soften but still would not release. I eventually took a tiny pair of surgical scissors and clipped it close to it's little body. At least he was free of that weight dragging on him.

It cannot fly and I don't think it can even take up nectar. The proboscis doesn't seem to go down into a flower. He keeps uncoiling and recoiling it and it looks split on the tip (maybe they're all like that) and his left antenna is hanging in a droopy way down the side of his face. He tries to fly and crawls around on the milkweed but flutters to the ground each time he attempts to fly.

Since it doesn't appear he can nectar, I think the most humane thing is to put him down in the fridge/freezer. How I hate this.

We did release 2 healthy girls and a boy today. We have three more chrysalis to eclose to finish up all that we brought in as eggs. So far we've released 49. If the remaining three are healthy, this will be 52 Monarchs raised and released this summer.

Mary

[Mona Miller]

In nature those 49 would not have made it, you have given 49 a chance to go forth and multiply.