Monarch Pupation Help

[Nyte Skyes]

Ok weHave two monarchs that are pupating on Named Leroy is already a crysalis but the other named Steve is looking for a place to lay his silk mat to hang for pupation, and we saw him go to Leroy's chrysalis so the question is. Will steve eat or harm Leroy?

[Mona Miller]

If Steve has enough food, then he usually will not eat another pupae (chrysalis). But, if Steve isn't careful and silks across Leroy's pupae (chrysalis) (they lay silk down wherever they go), then Leroy's skin could get caught on the extra silk and Leroy may not be able to pupate. This doesn't happen too often, but it is a possibility.

[Nyte Skyes]

Leroy is already a chrysalis haha, and Steve is searching for a place to lay his silk mat to pupate so i think he's had enough food, and thanks. what we did is took a piece of cardboard and divided the aquarium we were keeping them in =D.

[Mona Miller]

Can you tell it's been a long day for me? I tried to be specific. But, I think you get the gest and dividing them is a good idea. The caterpillars don't usually eat each other if there's enough food for them.

[Nyte Skyes]

Haha, I cant wait for my Smallest Oliver to get bigger and pupate oh hey I found a link to sex a caterpiller while its in the chrysalis stage! http://www.monarchwatch.org/biology/sexing.htm
of coarse you may have already known about this. heh.