Chrysalis predators?

[lib66laur]

Because I carelessly left the aquarium screen slightly ajar yesterday morning, I came home to find two Js on the lid right where it should fit over the top. I removed the lid entirely and it's a secure spot on my front porch. The 2 pupated overnight but now they're exposed, as is one in the aquarium (right under the perimeter of the top.) My porch is screened in but certainly open to spiders and whatever else slips through a crack. I'm too chicken to try to move the chrysalis'. Are they vulnerable to anything in particular at this point?

[Mona Miller]

Mice, wasp, I've had slugs eat them. Once they dry you don't have to worry about removing them and pinning them some place else. Just mist with water and the silk will loosen in less than 10 seconds. I use stick pins with plastic heads so they don't snag their wings. Be brave, you can do it.

[lib66laur]

Thank you! They're pupating like crazy all of the sudden! On a stripped piece of milkweed, on the lip of a small Tupperware... At last count I had 28 in various stages and just released two healthy ones ~ all this after I "said" I was done for the year because I kept hearing these ghastly OE stories. That number probably seems puny, but this is my first year doing this!

[Mona Miller]

That's still a lot of work. Like I said, wait until they harden at least one to two days and you can spray the top with water, the water loosens the silk. If it doesn't come off right away, spray it again. If it still seems hard to take off, use a stick pin to pull the silk. Usually, they come off pretty easily from plastic. Wherever you pin them, make sure they have something to climb on if they fall and that there is enough room for them to inflate their wings.

I use this technique with many species of butterflies and can relocate them easily.

[Wyvern]

Thank you! They're pupating like crazy all of the sudden! On a stripped piece of milkweed, on the lip of a small Tupperware... At last count I had 28 in various stages and just released two healthy ones ~ all this after I "said" I was done for the year because I kept hearing these ghastly OE stories. That number probably seems puny, but this is my first year doing this!

Ah don't let OE discourage you. If your raising methods are good, then OE doesn't really cause that much of a problem for the butterflies. I've had about a dozen deformities this year but only ONE of those actually had OE. Some of the deformities were related to virus problem that hit a couple of milkweed patches I collect from. The majority of the deformities had to do with the butterflies simply falling from their perches before the wings were fully dried and did not get back up in time before they set in crinkled fashion.

Of the 380 I've raised and tagged so far (aiming to tag 500 this year) had about 75 with OE (moderate to heavy loads)... that's about 20% infection rate. They eclosed just fine with no problems.. you would not be able to tell by looking at them that they even had OE - they looked that picture perfect. I still tag and release them.

[lib66laur]

Thanks for the encouragement! I've only had a few cats crawl off and die and a couple that didn't finish pupating... but so far no crippled wings. My sisters ~ who have been doing this for years ~ have had terrible trouble this year but (finger crossed!) I've had great success. Again, thank you! Every healthy one that ecloses boosts my spirits... Now what do I do when I don't have to gather milkweed and don't have any "bugs," as my husband calls them, to watch?!!

[Mona Miller]

Withdrawal.... You can follow the migration on Journey North.

http://www.learner.org/jnorth/monarch/

I'm planning a trip to the east coast in early October. Just for a few days.