found 5 5th instars!

[chanceychelsey]

Just went out to fill the bird feeder, looked down at the milkweed patch and saw a 5th instar merrily eating away. Upon closer inspection of my plants, I found 4 more! They are at the same stage as the last eggs I found and brought inside. I obviously missed these guys. They are now in the garage in their own cage.
I'm finding these late guys are having a difficult time getting rid of their skin when they go into a chrysalis. Several go in ok, but the skin is still gathered at the top of the cage. I always have more problems later in the season.
I hope the weather holds out for another couple of weeks and we get a couple of warm days for them to get away. Does anyone know if I was to drive them south a bit, would this confuse them as to where they have to go?

Waystation 927
Tottenham, Ontario

[skates4marty]

I'm finding these late guys are having a difficult time getting rid of their skin when they go into a chrysalis. Several go in ok, but the skin is still gathered at the top of the cage.

I have seen this all season. I didn't count, but maybe a quarter to a third have the final skin still stuck at the top. In seasons past, maybe 5%.