chrysalis looks like it is split

[mflutterby]

We have 3 chrysalis and 2 of them look as if near the top where it is hanging, it has a split. The area is not nice and solid green as should be. It almost looks as if it opened. The area is a horizontal crack or split. I see no fluid. They went into the chrysalis yesterday. Do you think that these are going to develop properly?

[skates4marty]

do they look like these:

viewtopic.php?f=6&t=2463

[mflutterby]

No, ours it split at the top close to where it hangs, where the gold colored line is, and it is a horizontal line. Instead of seeing a solid green chrysalis, where it is split there is a brown line. If I can send a picture I will do so. I feel guilty and wonder what did I do or is there something I could have done to prevent this. Of course, not sure if these are doomed or not.

[Mona Miller]

This almost sounds like some type of infection. When did this happen? After it formed its chrysalis? How long afterwards? OE can show up in 3 days. Bacterial infections can, too.

Sometimes it is nothing that we have done, it's part of the natural world.

[mflutterby]

It seems like it happened a day after the chrysalis was formed. I am going to try send a picture to show you. In the meantime we separated the two from all the healthy ones.

[Schmetterling]

I had one as you described, although the split was under the gold line. It ended up having a deformed wing and could not fly. Did you find it in egg form, or as a cat? Hope you have better luck with yours!

[mflutterby]

Ours are above the gold band. They look like they started to open and re-sealed, but where it opened is brown. We found them as cats. Only those two, so far all others look normal.

[mflutterby]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/35051833@N08/5018121333/
Still trying to send a picture of the not so healthy looking chrysalis. Let me know if you can or can't open this.

[Mona Miller]

So far, it is only discolored at the slit. Wait and see what happens.

[skates4marty]

I have never had one split like yours.

[mflutterby]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/35051833@N08/5025982021
http://www.flickr.com/photos/35051833@N08/5026598746/
The first picture shows the one split chrysalis looks now. The second picture is the outcome of the other split chrysalis. The monarch had a bit of trouble getting the one wing out of the chrysalis, so we helped it, very gently. The wind is a little but crumpled but I think it is straightening out. We have a total of 3 that have emerged today. It is very rainy so I will hope to release them tomorrow even the weather doesn't look much better. We will put some cuttings of the butterfly bush in the habitat for them if the weather doesn't clear up for tomorrow.

[Mona Miller]

On the first one, I see what looks like a string from a fly larvae. There may be a little brown pupa in your container.

http://www.mymonarchguide.com/2008/01/d ... d-fly.html
The Dreaded Tachinid Fly

[mflutterby]

Yep, there is. So what do we do with the chrysalis and brown pupa?

[Mona Miller]

Put both in a baggie and toss. The butterfly is dead, the fly is still alive. If you are up to it, flatten the fly pupa or pupae. Search your container, there is usually more than one.

[mflutterby]

It is done. We will keep a close eye on the rest of the chrysalis and our crumpled wing butterfly. Thanks for all the great information and advice.