Chrysalis Advice

Artcons found this chrysalis on my Lavender plant when we had a mini swap at my house a few weeks back. He suggested I cage this so I can keep a closer watch on its progress.

I have been watching it everyday and now I think I want to do as he suggested. I thought I would take the stem this is on and put it in a 4" pot and cover it with one of the cut off 2 litre coke bottles Art gave me.

If I cut off the Lavender stem it is attached to, poke it into soil in the 4" pot with the chrysalis be okay whether the Lavender lives or dies? Should I poke some air holes in the bottle or will there be enough air in there with the terrarium effect?

Here's a picture of it, but it's so hard to see since the coloring blends in so well. I suspect this will be one of the swallowtails that ate up my fennel since it's growing right next to it. The chrysalis is in the middle just above center. You can see just a bit of yellow on it,

Thanks,
Molly

I am no expert but in raising a lot of caterpilars over here and watching them pupate, what I did buy was one of those net baggies, round cylindar in shape for holding cocoons. We make sure we keep lots of plant stems in it because when the emerge, they need to hang off something so their wings can dry. We have had a couple fall off their stems and fall on thier leaves casuign the to dry crinkled up. If that little guy is already on the plant, I would leave him there and tie netting around the whole plant, pot and all...you know the tulle you can buy at Walmart in the fabrics department? It works great.

Just a suggestion

Thank you May. I shall give it a try. Daily I look and it's still there. I am really looking forward to seeing the transformation. Of all the Monarch and Swallowtail Cats that were munching my plants, I only have this one chrysalis.

:^)))

It will be fine on the stem, even if turns brown and dies. As long as it's hard and stands up so the chrysalis is hanging, either direction is fine. Like May said, it just needs to be able to hang and dry. I don't think you need the bottle over it tho unless you are trying to protect it from something else, like an animal. In your state it shouldn't overwinter so it won't be too long. There are thoughts that sometimes you should mist them occassionally when they are inside, since they do get rained on outside, but I never have and all of mine eclose fine. If it were me, I'd probably put it in a small vase that I get from Wal-Mart with another stick that's strong, like the bamboo type garden stakes. You could even tape the lavendar to one of these to keep it up.

That sounds good. See, I wanted to keep an eye on it and watch it wake up. Never seen that before.

Good idea about the moisture.

Molly
:^)))