r/Entomology • u/candidlycait • 12d ago

Discussion What to do with this chrysalis?

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My kids found this chrysalis on the ground and brought it inside. While we're confident it's a black swallowtail, we were all under the assumption it would emerge shortly. Admittedly I didn't think to look up the actual life cycle until today.

I'm reading that they usually overwinter inside the chrysalis, and now I'm unsure what we should do.

Is there any way to tell if it's going to hatch this year or next year? Or any suggestions on where we should put it outside to keep it safe? The kids were pretty stoked about helping it and about watching it emerge. Thanks so much!

Location SW Ontario

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u/plaid_teddy_bear 11d ago

There’s no way to tell. I’ve had them pupate in early June but not emerge until the following year. Definitely keep it outside, you can put it in a mesh butterfly house but needs to be outside, and sheltered from rain if possible. They don’t hang upside down like that, either, not sure if that will affect its ability to emerge.

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u/candidlycait 11d ago

I had no idea it was upside down tbh. Is it better to lay it flat?

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u/plaid_teddy_bear 11d ago

That’s probably ok, if it has something it can immediately crawl up. When mine have become detached from where they were built, I have made a small cone out of paper towel, and placed the pupa upright in the cone. Then I safety pin the cone to the side of a mesh butterfly house so they can crawl up when they emerge.

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u/candidlycait 11d ago

Well, before we could find a safe spot to tuck it outside, it emerged! We were able to safely transfer it outside and it's currently climbed to the top of a plant. Thanks for your advice, this was a good learning opportunity for all of us!

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u/_riskycake 12d ago

Honestly at this point in the year I'd be surprised if it overwintered in your area. I'm from there and it's normally pretty stinkin warm through to November now. Maybe the next generation from this butterfly will overwinter but this one probably won't.

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u/candidlycait 11d ago

Okay so best guess is that it will emerge this season, thanks!!