Part of Caterpillar sticking out

Brown area at bottom of Chrysalis appears to be dead?

Brown area at bottom of Chrysalis appears to be dead?

My two sons and I are raising our first Monarch Butterflies from Larvae. Wednesday night we noticed the first chrysalis. It's now Saturday and the chrysalis has not formed completely around the caterpillar yet. The part sticking out looks dead, the chrysalis itself looks a healthy light green. Is this normal, is it just part of the shedding process. The other caterpillar formed a complete chrysalis within 24hours. Please help.

Karen says:
It looks and sounds like a Nuclear polyhedrosis virus (NPV) in which caterpillars and chrysalises are affected. Often the larva fails to fully pupate. Make sure and disinfect with a 20% bleach solution all of the equipment you are using to raise the monarchs because this is very contagious. Hopefully your other chrysalis is OK.

Comments for Part of Caterpillar sticking out

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Caterpillar sticking out of chrysalis
by: Anonymous

I thought our caterpillars hadn't formed correctly either and thought that part of their bodies were sticking out. This is before I understood and viewed the chyrsalis forming process. The skin literally splits and sheds from their upside down head upwards and sometimes the dead skin stays at the top of the chrysalis where it attaches itself to hang. It appears to be incomplete, but is just stuck, shed skin. Look up some chrysalis forming videos on you tube to see the fascinating process!!!

Karen says:
My new Monarch Butterfly Life Cycle Movie also shows the this part of the life cycle :)
Caterpillar Sticking Out
by: Beth

We have Painted Lady caterpillars and I came looking for info because two of our five have not formed their chrysalis complete and have part of their body sticking out. Will they hatch? The fifth caterpillar kept bothering them (by brushing up against them as he walked around the container) after they attached to form their chrysalis and I'm wondering if they were disturbed too much so now they won't become butterflies. Anyone know?
Yahoo!!!!
by: Lorraine

First picture taken 4/24 now 5/9 The butterfly hatched today. Beautiful and healthy. My son couldn't be happier!

Karen says:
Wow, Lorraine, that is fantastic!
More info
by: Anonymous

It's now next Saturday it's been a week and 1/2. The chrysalis is still healthy looking green with beautiful silver spots. The black part sticking out hasn't changed. I hate to throw it away if there's a chance for survival. The other caterpillar is in a separate container, do I have to worry about it being affected as well? Both containers were store bought and never used before. This Caterpillar was huge and very healthy looking before it turned into a chrysalis.

Karen says:
I don't see any reason you couldn't keep it and see what happens as long as it is separated from the normal looking chrysalis. Let us know what happens...

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