HELP - late pupas not opening

[dlakows]

This is my first year raising monarchs - I have already released 45 monarchs - suddenly my pupas are turning black, I can see the shadows of wings, but it never opens. this has happen to 3 in a row now. Yesterday I took the aquarium outside to get some air and indirect sun. One opened, but the butterfly after 15 hours still has not completely unfolded its wings, it is alive. I still have 12 green pupas. Is there anything I can do to help the remaining pupas??? Any ideas of what may be wrong for next year would be great.

Facts about my set up:
I live in the Chicago area, so its migration time. The temp dropped in my house by almost 10 degrees for the last 36 hours (but I don't think that has anything to do with it). I thought the last catepillars were smaller than usuall when they went to pupa (like they were rushing the process). I had all the pupa in one aquarium, 30 gallon, but usually had 10 catepillars in it a time.

THANK YOU for you thoughts
Debbie

[Mona Miller]

If they remain dark for more than 3 days and do not emerge, I'd say you probably have a disease problem. The fact that one came out and could not inflate its wings is also not a good sign.

I'd advise removing these, spray with water, take a paper towel and pull them down. Put them into a zip lock bag, freeze and dispose later.

[Mona Miller]

I've been thinking about this some more. How cold is your house? This morning I had dark chrysalis, but they didn't emerge until I took an incandescent lamp and put that about 12-18 inches away from them. This warms them up a bit more. Putting a glass aquarium outside is risky. Even in indirect light the glass conducts heat.

[dlakows]

the temp in my house has been around 72 for the last day or so - what is the best temp for the pupas?
and if it is a disease, any idea from what? is there a maximum capacity for pupas in a flat netting area of 10" x 10"

The butterfly who's wings were not unfolding is now fluttering in the tank- wings look better but the shell of the pupa is stuck around the butterfly's body. Can I help this guy?

[Mona Miller]

Don't put them in direct sun. A little higher if you can get it. Some where on the forum I posted temps where they remain viable. I think it must be above 60.

Spray the butterfly with water and it will soften the shell. Try to remove. If it doesn't come off right away. Trying spraying it with more water.

Possible disease could be OE.

I wouldn't put in more than 8 caterpillars into an area that big.