Black Swallowtail Chrysalis Twitching

I've never raised black swallowtail butterfly caterpillars before and yesterday two of the chrysalis were twitching like crazy. I thought for sure they might emerge but no, and unfortunately I've lost track of how long they've been in their chrysalis stage. Does anyone out there have any experience with this? Thanks!

Karen says:
Sometimes there is some movement of the chrysalis (I don't know if I have seen "twitching like crazy" though). With the black swallowtail, you can sometimes see a very faint sign of the butterfly inside the chrysalis shortly before it emerges. Hope this helps. Anybody else had this experience?

Comments for Black Swallowtail Chrysalis Twitching

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Twitching
by: Anonymous

I am hatching my first painted ladies and the book I got said the twitching is a defense mechanism they use when they feel threatened. Mine twitched a lot when their cage got bumped or a piece of fuzz touched them. Hope this helps!
Chrysalis Twitching
by: Val

I moved a chrysalis of a Gulf Frit and it twitched like crazy too. Freaked me out. But the butterfly hatched days later and it was fine.
Twitching
by: Susie

A butterfly emerged from my twitching chrysalis yesterday. Don't know how long that one will live in this cold weather.
Twitching
by: Susie

I just wanted to let you know that I have also experienced the twitching chrysalis. I just checked the ones I have in the shed and one was moving all over the place. Sure hope it doesn't come out because it's way too cold. I have one living in my computer room right now that eclosed yesterday, October 28th. It was so cold this morning that the butterfly wasn't moving outside so I brought it in with two pots of mums, some lavender, and butterfly bush branches. Hope it warms so I can put it outside.
It's ok
by: Laura

Black swallowtails emerged from both of the chrysalises in question. No wasps. One of the butterflies appears to be healthy but I don't think the other one's wings will fully develop. It seems like it expelled some liquid (?) when it emerged, it's body is not as plump as the other and from my understanding, that liquid is needed to inflate the wings. Oh well, I guess you can't save them all. I have one healthy one from a "twitcher" plus another I released yesterday plus another that emerged this a.m. that seems to be doing well!

Karen says:
Thanks for the update...glad to here you have some healthy black swallowtails! They are so beautiful!
stillll twitchin...
by: lib66laur

One has stopped but the other one is extremely active tonight. Please, I hope it's "labor pains" and not some nasty parasite. The chrysalis seems smaller and it drawn up closer to the branch now.

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