Transporting Chrysalis's?

[4monarchs]

We're leaving for a vacation rental in Cape May this Saturday for a week, and I can get my cats down comfortably in their plastic container condo's. Have the chrysalis's hanging from a big enclosure I built, on styrafoam strips, each secured by a straight pin. Is this a safe way to get them down there in the car for a 4 hour ride, or will it be way too bumpy? (Poor things might need some Dramamine, but I got a rental with an enclosed porch for all my monarch stuff!) Any suggestions for what to do with those that will emerge that day? I may have about 70 to transport. Released 22 butterflies today after tagging them

[Mona Miller]

I think if they aren't turning black that you could put them into a container with some papertowel and rehang them when you get there (take out the pins, spray the top of the silk with water and the pins will be easy to reinsert for rehanging). You don't want to take the chance that they will drop. How big is your container that you are carrying the chrysalis in? Is it a net container? I pin my chrysalis on the insides of a net container (weave downward, sharp point of stick pin on the outside). They don't rock as much. And, when they emerge they can climb up the net container.

http://educationalscience.com/merchant. ... tus=passed
This is what it looks like. You can get these at Target and Walmart.

http://www.livemonarch.com/store_enclosures.php
Or the small cubes from LiveMonarch

[terrifly]

I was going to ask this same type of question. One of my females very sweetly left 6 eggs yesterday on my milkweed. But in Sept. I will be going away on vacation. Depending on the timing I would either have to take the chrysalis's with me or leave them with someone here to release for me.
Because of where we are going in Upstate NY across from Canada in Sept. which will be much colder I feel that maybe it would be best to see if I can keep them in NJ.
Advice?
I just wish I could see my grandbabies fly off .

Terri

[Mona Miller]

First it is illegal to take butterflies and moths across state lines, if you didn't know that. Second, how long will you be gone.

Today is the 8/18.
3-5 days for eggs to hatch
10-14 for larva stage
10-14 for pupa stage

Temperature makes the cycle go faster, but too hot can cook your Monarchs. If you didn't leave until mid September, you just might get to send your babies off yourself to Mexico or south some place.

But, the chances are you'll find more eggs and then what will you do. Sorry.

[terrifly]

I didnt know it was illegal to take them to another state. But then how was it ok for me to get them from another state mail order?
Terri

[terrifly]

Looks like my friend at the arboretum is going to help me raise my butterflies while I am gone...He will keep them in my own tent apart from their own.
Thanks,
Terri

[Mona Miller]

I didnt know it was illegal to take them to another state. But then how was it ok for me to get them from another state mail order?
Terri

The person you got them from is supposed to have a permit. There are only 9 species that can be mailed for release, but not to every state. Monarchs cannot be mailed from West to East and vice versa.

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/plant_health/ ... oths.shtml

I used to have a permit to take Monarchs to Maryland. I am in the process of renewing it. I do this on line electronically, but it takes several weeks.

[Mona Miller]

Looks like my friend at the arboretum is going to help me raise my butterflies while I am gone...He will keep them in my own tent apart from their own.
Thanks,
Terri

I hope he takes pictures for you and updates you, too on their progress.

[4monarchs]

Thanks Mona,
We spoke a couple of summers ago when I found your forum...my former "handle" was Summerluver, but I couldn't seem to register with it again, so I did so with my new name, "4monarchs". I knew you'd have a perfect solution to my problem. I actually have a large cube that I purchased last year while in a butterfly pavillion in Florida, so I'll get some large safety pins and pin my chrysalis's to it as you suggested. I also have a pop-up hamper from the dollar store that will help out as well. That video you posted on a monarch emerging while laying down reaffirms how much their amazing abilities continue to leave me speechless and in awe of them.

[Mona Miller]

I use straight pins with plastic head. I spray the pupae with water, that loosens the silk, then i stick the straight pin through the silk (not the cremaster or pupa). Push the pin through the netting and then weave out and in and then out (sharp end always out). Do this in a downward position so the pin will not fall out.



This photo was taken through the plastic side of the net cage. I always position that away from the light because butterflies mostly go towards the light when they emerge.