Lost cat

[monarchlady]

I started w/17 cats on 8/26. Lost one on the 3rd day. All was well until yesterday, all are in the process of doing the chrysalis thing. The cat had 'buttoned' fine. When it shed its outer skin, it was wiggling to discard the 'cat skin', instead of the skin falling, the chrysalis fell. I happened to be there (quite by chance) and tried to help. I pcked up the chrysalis (terrified on how I would reattach it), but it had broken its new green layer of protection and it was oozing a green plasma. It was downhill from there. I lost it. Did this ever happen to anyone out there? How do they attach the chrysalis to boards? I have seen this at butterfly sanctuaries, but never looked close enough (didn't think about it). The very thin black extension looked to 'thin' to use a straightpin. Thanks for comments shared.

[drader]

I use an enclosure (cage) with a mesh top; I have had no problems with larva losing their grip; their silk seems to hold them to the mesh quite well. I have successfully used alligator clips to suspend chrysalides that became detached from milkweed stalks that were being used as a food source in the cage. You are right...straightpins don't seem to work and for the record...neither does super glue.

[monarchlady]

Thanks - used super glue first time out several years ago - right, didn't work - but what is an alligator clip??????

[Jim]

An alligator clip is just a spring-loaded clip with metal "jaws" - they come in all sizes and are available at just about any hardware store or home center, usually in the electrical supplies aisle...

[monarchrose]

I have used the thread technique, which I think is described on Monarch Watch somewhere. It seems to work well. You tie a slip type knot in thread and pass this over the end of the silk knob, tighten, and then use a needle on the end of the tread to sew it to the top of the net cage.