Hummingbird and Butterfly Gardening: what to do with chrysalids inside?, 1 by debnes_dfw_tx

debnes_dfw_tx wrote:
Kim,
I keep all mine in small Gladware cages overwinter. This way spiders and such can't get to them. All swallowtails overwinter as chrysalids. I keep them out of the way in the mudroom between the back door and the den. The temp in there is cooler most of the time, but not freezing. They have done just fine. I have about 7 BSTs and 2 GSTs and a few stragglers pupating now.
If you can carefully peel away the silk, they can be reattached inside of the 1/2 gallon Glad containers with double-sided tape, about 5 to a container (on its side horizontally). You can mix different species of swallowtails too.
They will not open til the last week in March or April, (usually April). I have found that they open by the position of the sun more than temperature. Last year the GSTs eclosed end of March, and the BSTs, first week in April.

When all of mine are done pupating I will consolidate them better than in this pic. Then I will come back here with some better pics. For now I have them tucked away in this larger mesh cage.

:-D