Should I move this chrysalis?

[Turtlehead]

I have one chrysalis on the side of a 10 gallon aquarium and two more are hanging in a "J", also on the side. Should I move them using the thread method? My concern is that one side will be flattened, or, the butterfly will have nothing to hang on to.


Also, two chrysalises have what looks like a black head capsule attached. One is on the top of the chrysalis and one is on the bottom. Is this normal? One of them is a very small chrysalis.

Thank you for your help. These questions have probably already been addressed but I cannot find the answers.

Turtlehead

[Mona Miller]

Once the chrysalis has dried, I'd move them. Mist them with water, and pull the silk with a stick pin, you can take the stick pin and push it through the silk only. Not the cremaster or the chrysalis. Then, it can be hung some where. I use net containers so I weave the stick pin from the inside through the net and then make sure the sharp side is on the outside.

Regarding pupae that the head capsule didn't not detach, I would freeze them. But, if possible send me a picture first or if you can post a picture to the forum that would be good, too.

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[alletahg]

I've had caterpillars form a chrysalis in a spot that resulted in a flat area on the chrysalis. Those butterflies seemed perfectly normal and flew off just as easily as all the other butterflies.

[Mona Miller]

Some times they don't turn out normal. Some times depending on the area where they are flatted, they can be missing part of a wing or leg. Why chance it? It is so easy to move them or tilt the container so they hang and form normally. I've even moved caterpillars that were Jing, which is a bit more tricky--but it can be done.

My guess is that you were very lucky that your flattened chrysalises didn't suffer any harm.

[Turtlehead]

Here is the photo of the chrysalis that appears to have a black head capsule attached.

Turtlehead

[Mona Miller]

Spray with a little water, and carefully pull that off. It is the old skin. You may not even need the water, but it does help to soften the silk and make it easier to pull that off. The caterpillar usually twist around and knocks that off, but sometimes it doesn't fall. Sometimes it even gets caught in the chrysalis and gets attached. If I see that it can't get it off, I very carefully remove it. If you pull too hard it will pull the chrysalis off the silk pad.

You can use a stick pin to do this, but be careful don't stick the chrysalis or cremaster (black stick looking thing that attaches the chrysalis to the silk pad).

The chrysalis is soft after the skin is removed (upwards) during pupation and then seems to put out this creamy coating which hardens to that beautiful green with gold dots.

[lib66laur]

How long do you usually consider normal drying time for a chrysalis? I had a cat that (i really wondered whether he was pariticized anyway) form a chrysalis on the side of the aquarium. Hours later, I still thought the green was rather pale, but chose to try to move it anyway. (There was still quite a bit of caterpillar 'skin' for lack of a better term at the top.) I accidentally dropped it, a couple green drops came out and now the chrysalis is dented and hanging by thread from the aquarium screen. I probably killed it but I wonder if it might have had problems anyway..... Any thoughts?

[Mona Miller]

24-48 hours. But, that really depends how cool your house it.

Picture please, if possible.

Here's a poem for you. Dang it, I accidently cut into a pupa of a Zebra Swallowtail, while cutting off another pupa today. Dang, it, dang, it.


Quiet as a Caterpillar

Quiet, but not so quiet
They never speak
But, I can hear them munching
And, also a bit of crunching
As they bite, bite into the leaves
I remind myself to be on guard
I remind myself to be careful
Careful with those who never complain
I’m an sadden when one fails due to my care
I rationalize that one was only one of many
But, each one has value

[lib66laur]

I should have waited. DARN my impatience. Thanks for the poem, though!

[Mona Miller]

Live and learn. Don't kick yourself too much. The next one will benefit from your experience. It's taken me 20 years and I still make mistakes.