Caterpillar stuck before pupation?

[Summerinx]

I have a couple of monarch caterpillars that are pupating these few days. Today, one of them started to wiggle out of its skin, but didn't manage because the skin didn't split in the back. Now it's stuck inside the skin, still looking like a caterpillar, and not moving, even when I poke it.

Does anyone know what's going to happen to it or if there's anything I can do?
Thanks!

[Mona Miller]

Best thing to do is do some searching on this forum. There's been lots of discussion on the skin not splitting.

Here are a couple of examples:

viewtopic.php?f=6&t=2330

viewtopic.php?f=6&t=2301&p=11232&hilit=caterpillar+stuck#p11360

[Summerinx]

Ok thanks, I found a couple of topics. Unfortunately, I think that cat is dead now, it's starting to turn black.

[Mona Miller]

Unfortunately, when you raise them not all of them will make it. There's a lot that can go right, but some things do go wrong. Many more make it if you take them inside and take care of them. Only about 2% of the 600 some eggs that could be laid by a female make it to adulthood to fly outdoors.

[Summerinx]

I didn't want to start a new thread, so here's the current status of my monarchs.

So 2 hatched perfectly fine.
The third came out just now, my mom and I had to help it come out of the chrysalis since it wasn't making much progress, then we noticed that its legs seem to be underdeveloped. The botton half of each leg is a whitish yellow colour, and it's not using them properly, and not crawling much. The legs can't seem to support it at all.
I don't know if it'll still be alright once the wings dry.

[Mona Miller]

Apparently, something went wrong and those legs didn't develop properly. In nature, it probably would not have made it out of this chrysalis.

Unfortunately, even with great care being given to them some Monarchs do not develop properly and have birth defects. There can be underlying causes and some of those causes are poisons in the environment from pesticides and herbicides. Other causes may be bacteria, viral, or fungal infections.

[wenderwomn@aol.com]

my daughter and i find it quite helpful to spray the chrysalis lightly eash morning and evening(indoors) AS THEY TEND TO DRY OUT. Once they appear to turn black(translucent) we watch them very closely for problems during pupation. If they appear to be taking too long once they have cracked and r still not emerging we spray them every so often to help soften the chrysalis but at the same time do not want them to get too cold so be careful. most of the time this helps. Don't rush them. Also take them out and let them feel the warmth of the sun, helps to warm the chrysalis and make it more pliable and earier to emerge from..

[Mona Miller]

http://www.theatlantic.com/past/docs/is ... vside2.htm
On Transformation

I just remember this short essay on Transformation.