Chrysalis surgery?

[mich]

I've been collecting eggs since the end of June - didn't see a single one until then! Was beginning to wonder... I now have 63 chrysalis, 8 healthy releases and 100+ cats. Looks like it might be a good year after all!

I've developed a system that works for me and have learned since my couple little disasters of last year what I can do to avert those problems. Last year I was lucky enough to have all my cats (120+)pupate and eclose as normal/healthy. When I got up this morning, I noticed one of the cats pupating at the top of the screened enclosure; he seemed to be in trouble, so I watched for awhile. His skin split behind the head as normal, but it didn't split all the way - it's as though the chrysalis is wearing a belt - a tight belt. Since I don't allow a whole lot of time to fuss around before having to leave for work, I was unable to do anything about it. Is there anything I can do about it? The chrysalis seemed to be "hardening" as usual; when it's fully done, do you think I could somehow remove the belt and have the butterfly develop normally?

[Mona Miller]

One of the other caterpillars may have silked over him while he was hanging in a J. When the caterpillar starts to pupate the skin catches on that silk. If you can't spray it with water, which will loosen the skin and silk and carefully take off the rest of the skin, then I'd put the pupa in a baggie and freeze it.

[mich]

Thanks, Mona. I'll try wetting it down tomorrow morning. I don't think another cat did this, though. That particular cat was the last to go up.

[Mona Miller]

Sometimes things just happen, but you seem to have a good percentage of successes.

I have a Red Admiral adult in the freezer right now. It didn't successfully get its wings inflated so it can't fly. It's wings are a mess.