Hummingbird and Butterfly Gardening: DAILY BUTTERFLIES Page 20, 1 by mellielong

mellielong wrote:
My little guy wasn't actually in his chrysalis yet, just the sling. He seems ok though. He's been chillin', turning colors and looks like he's going to chrysalize soon. I touched him with a leaf just to make sure he was alive and he twitched. I think he's gonna be ok!

In preparation for when they eclose...I know they need something to stand on but what exactly does that mean? All of mine are making their chrysalis on the side of my plastic critter keeper. I know you guys have said glass is too slippery but what about hard plastic? It's pretty roughed up and the cats have no problem crawling up and down it. I can add some sticks to the cage but I just wanted to hear others' opinions. I'm used to the Gulf Frits which hang, not swallowtails in their sling.

To prove how roughed up the cage is...I had read that the chrysalis of the ZST can differ in color. If they're on a smoother branch, they assume they're on a new part of the plant and make a green chrysalis. If they're on a rougher branch, they assume they're on an older portion and make a brown chrysalis. Chubby, my cat who I thought would never become a butterfly, is the one inside the chrysalis. Compare it to the green one I posted earlier.