2 out of 3 Larvae have died.

[K. Tristan]

I was given 3 larvae on a few sprigs of butterfly weed and within 1 day one of them was lying in the bottom of the cage. The next afternoon when my daughter checked on the remaining 2 they were hanging from the ceiling of the cage. I thought they were OK but this morning one more had dropped to the bottom. The remaining one is still hanging in there and I bought 3 butterfly weeds today but I'm afraid to move the little guy for fear that I am going to disturb the whole process. If I can move it safely how should I go about it? Please reply ASAP so we don't lose the last one.

New to the game!

[Jim]

How big are the larvae? Where did the larvae come from? Were there other larvae feeding on the same milkweed that have survived? Are you sure that the milkweed has not been treated with any chemicals? Are you sure it is milkweed? What do the larvae look like?

If the larvae are spinning a silk button at the top of the cage and hanging in a "J" then feeding has most likely ceased and you shouldn't disturb the larva at this point.

Please provide as much detail as possible and we'll try to figure out what is going on with your critters down there in TX