OE already?

[lib66laur]

Arrrrrgh! First I had hardly any eggs. Now I have a dozen eggs/larva. I've had one chrysalis and couldn't wait for a beautiful butterfly (fortunately I've had two) only to find the chrysalis was cracked at the top this morning and my husband reports that the Monarch has emerged is laying at the bott om of the aquarium with a crumpled wing.

I never thought I had the patience but perhaps it's time to go to the individual cup method....

[Paul Cherubini]

my husband reports that the Monarch has emerged is laying at the bott om of the aquarium with a crumpled wing.

It's natural for some monarchs to fall from the chrysalis even if they don't have OE. That's why I put a piece of foam rubber beneath the chrysalis. Then if the butterfly falls, it will not be injured and then it can walk to a place where it can hang and expand it's wings.

[NickiM]

I hang all of the chrysalises in a large plastic storage box that I've lined with netting. That way if any chrysalis or butterfly fall, they are cushioned by the netting. Plus, it's easy to disinfect after the last butterfly is released.

[Monarch MaMa]

What Monarch Watch research suggested to me is to lay the pupa on its side or back so the head, legs & proboscis are upwards on paper towelling. I use newspaper, making a crease for the chrysalis to lie in. Then take a small strip of fiberglass screening, 3" x 4" and roll it inside a large clear plastic cup & cover the chrysalis. When the butterfly ecloses, it will climb up the screening but being separate from others, it won't infect others should it be diseased. A roll of 24" wide fiberglass cost $5, clear plastic cups are everywhere. They don't need that much oxygen so you don't have to puncture the cup and the screening & cup can be sterilized & reused.

If you don't want to separate the pupa from the top of your container, at least give it something to crawl up on so it has a chance for those beautiful wings to unfurl and dry. A rough stick or a piece of screen up the side will give it a ladder. Seems that 2 friends have had ruined monarchs because they fell in slick plastic container & couldn't climb up the walls to properly set for those wings to develop.