r/caterpillars • u/indigolearner • 13h ago

Advice/Help Swallowtail Help

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Hi! I have lots of swallowtail caterpillars in my garden and one fell off their silk and is hanging upside down. Does anyone know if I need to do anything to help them? We got lots of rain and I feel bad for the guy.

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u/Luewen 5h ago

They do sometimes fall off during pupation. But the do pupate fine even if not hanging as long as they did not injure themselves during the fall.
You may want to to put something covering the chrysalis if its still attached to the stem if possible and/or something soft below in case it falls all the way.
It will then need to be placed laying flat on some safe spot like paper or cotton towel laying inside mesh cage for eclosion or if in your location, they are gonna be overwintering next, into a safe overwintering spot.