Raising & moving black swallowtail chrysalis...

by Irene M.
(Pennsylvania to Georgia to Florida)

We were visiting family in North Carolina near the coast and found some tiny black swallowtail caterpillars and "adopted" them. We made a home in a plastic box (poked many holes) & made some feeding containers out of plastic containers weighted with rocks, filled with water, holes poked in lid to keep parsley. Made sure to use the same flat leaf they were feeding on. Crazy as it sounds, we traveled to Pennsylvania with them. They have done great and become quite the fat little (that sounds funny)caterpillars. I've been reading what to do here and felt that they'd be ready to form their chrysalis's and put some sticks with horizontal branches in the container the same way as I did the parsley minus the water. Sure enough 2 of the 4 have "threw up" and climbed aboard and appear ready. The other 2 should be following along. My question (after this loooong explanation) is...I'm traveling by car to Georgia in 4 days and staying a week then heading back to Florida. Is it safe to travel with them once in the chrysalis? I've been ever so careful and hoping that our family would see these guys off! Any advice? I know, I'm crazy but grown quite attached to these little, fat fellas!

Karen says:
Sure it is safe to travel with the chrysalis. Just try to protect them somehow so they aren't bumped too much. Good luck and enjoy! Let us know how things turn out...maybe some pictures :)

Comments for Raising & moving black swallowtail chrysalis...

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Black Swallowtail chrysalis
by: Anonymous

If you have a detached chrysalis, the butterfly will emerge from a lying flat position as long as there is a vertical stick/branch next to them. They will climb aboard on their own and scoot up in a blink of any eye.
moving a caterpiller
by: Anonymous

Can i move a caterpiller who has just attached himself to an area I think is too low for a butterfly to emerge from??
My Chrysalis dropped
by: Bev

Hello, was looking to see if you have answered this question and came to this post. We have one chrysalis on a new milkweed plant, or rather we had. Our dog bumped the table it was on and it dropped from the branch, into about 1/8" of water. I carefully picked it up and now have it in a jar. It is not a fully formed chrysalis. The caterpillar is still about 2/3 on the outside. Is there any chance it can reattach to anything? If not, will it be able to continue in a laying down position? Can I make some kind of sling with cotton, or something else to hang it upside down. We have never done this before and were so excited to see if progress. My little girl was in tears. Please help us save this future butterfly. Thanks.
Got them to Florida...
by: IreneM.

We've made it! 3 opened yesterday morning in Savannah, GA & we drove home to Miami in the afternoon with them in a butterfly cage w/flowers & sugar water on them. They are doing fine but wanted to wait for the last to open to set them free. He didn't go into a chrysalis until a day or so after. My question is how long can I keep them in the cage? Can they wait a day more? I thought for sure he'd open this morning but he seems to need another day.

Karen says:
They should be find in the cage as long as there is food and they are safe. Enjoy!
Moving cont. yet again...
by: IreneM.

I'm sorry to be a pest. I thought I sent this question but don't think it went through. We have done our first trip in the car and everyone seems to be fine. The question/concern I have is about the little fellow on the parsley. The stalk continues to wilt, terribly and not sure if it will harden or fall apart (the stalk). Is it possible to reattach a chrysalis if the stalk doesn't support it or falls apart? I've twisted a tie, twisty, thingy from closing garbage bags from the stick beside it around the parsley stalk and over the edge of the plastic container. Quite the design but it seems to be working so far. I must confess I'm even losing sleep! :-) I will definitely send pictures once we get home. Thanks, yet again! Irene

Karen says:
If it seems to be working I would guess it's OK. I have reattached Monarch chrysalis but not black swallowtail. I would just leave it if possible. I was just thinking you could put a stick in a narrow necked vase or something and then just tie thread to attach the parsley stem to the stick.
Moving cont...
by: IreneM.

Ok. I was thinking the same thing about the parsley stalk. The other thing was that the other 2 attached only about an inch or so from the bottom of the container. Will they have enough room for their wings? I must say this amazing miracle of transformation is absolutely incredible! If I didn't see it with my own eyes I'm not sure I'd believe it. We left this afternoon around 3:30 and came back at 8:30 and they went from caterpillar hanging to this chrysalis! Wow! I've been taking pictures and when I get home will download them to my computer and send them. Thanks for your help!

Karen says:
Don't worry about the butterfly having room, it will move after it emerges. Yes, it truly is a MIRACLE of transformation! I am so happy you have discovered it :)
Traveling....
by: Irene M.

Thanks. Now I see one fellow has attached to the side of the plastic container about 2 inches from the bottom and a third has attached to a thick stock of parsley. Guess they didn't like my sticks! The third one is still working on it. The first 3 have started the little string. Will they be ok? The parsley stock is somewhat thick and in water but not sure how long it will stay strong. Any suggestions?

Karen says:
I would think they should be fine. I have had caterpillars attach to everything from newspaper to walls to curtains to cords, etc. :) If the parsley stock starts to wilt you could possibly attach the stalk with thread to a stick and that should work. Enjoy!

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