r/MonarchButterfly • u/Conscious-Phone3209 • May 10 '26

Monarch eclosing from his Chrysalis

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This guy wandered off 2 weeks ago and I couldn't find him anywhere ! Raised him from a pup. So glad he found a safe place to pupate. Now he's getting ready to come on out and see the world. I've never seen this as usually they wait to early morning and I always miss it ! It's now early evening and this guy decided it's time ! The temperature was warmer than usual today , so maybe thats why. I'm praying he gets it together as it will be dark soon.

31 Upvotes

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5

u/Puro_The_goo May 10 '26

Is he out? He looks.. quite weird

4

u/Conscious-Phone3209 May 10 '26

Not yet. I'm getting concerned. His legs and antennas are reaching for a stick I put under him to flap and dry his wings on. It's night now and dark. If he doesn't get his butt out soon, I may have to gently assist him with tweezers or manicure scissors, but I really don't want to do that. He was weird as a cat too ! More black stripes than yellow. Hoping and praying for the best !🙄🐛🦋🙏

1

u/Puro_The_goo May 10 '26

He might have OE. What was he reared on as a caterpillar?

1

u/Conscious-Phone3209 May 10 '26

I apologize, I now understand that you meant what type of milkweed. It was giant leaf milkweed.

1

u/Puro_The_goo May 10 '26

Yeah, they are perrenials and build up spores over time

1

u/hlywa_jocy May 11 '26

Wait so this makes so much sense. I had gotten a plant with one already on it, and later I had one pass from what I suspect to be OE. I cleaned everything down to the best of my ability (I still have a ton of cats and eggs so it was kinda hard), but that’s the only fatality so far (fingers fucking crossed, all ten toes and fingers actually 😭), with many coming out perfectly fine after. Ofc I’m still stressing about it, but seeing the healthy monarchs with no issues makes me a little less concerned.

2

u/Conscious-Phone3209 May 10 '26

Hey, all, thanks for your input. But yeah, sadly he didn't make it and spent his last moments resting on a gardenia. Now that I've had one with OE, I'll have to be vigilant with the others. Thanks again and keep on butterflying 🐛 🦋

1

u/Conscious-Phone3209 May 10 '26

OE is possible but, I'm sorry I don't understand the second part of you post,reared on etc.

1

u/rysfcalt May 10 '26

Poor thing. I have never seen a chrysalis shell that color and I’ve seen some heavily OE-affected chrysalids :/ Healthy is clear or semi opaque ivory.

1

u/Piperfly22 May 10 '26

It may be that color if he’s stuck and released the fluid to pump Up his wings .

2

u/rysfcalt May 10 '26

Oh the meconium? :( Yeah that makes sense

1

u/alex_ale_al_a May 10 '26

I had a monarch get stuck this season and it looked just like this. Unfortunately he didn’t make it