Crumpled wings from chrysalis

[Sharyn Fernandez]

>snip
. You actually don't need a cage I used to do this
>on a windowsill but that risks the butteflies being difficult to catch.
-
>Neil Jones- Neil at nwjones.demon.co.uk http://www.nwjones.demon.co.uk/

...thanks Neil, I'll try misting the pupa... and FYI to anyone interested:
from my brief experience, I would emphasize the need for humidity; I place
commercially obtained V. cardui in the 1 oz vial on the provided nutrient
source, with no holes in the container, moving them to 4 oz containers
(with holes) as they mature to their 3 cm size before pupation. I've given
them a choice of host plant material and nutrient and they seem to prefer
the nutrient; however, depending on availability of potted host plants and
rearing boxes at the time, I'll move them to plants in a box to feed on
before pupation - mainly to observe "natural" feeding behavior. But the
containers seem to work equally well. I'm trying to keep them tidy. Their
"estivation" web seems to catch the frass and keep in away from their
nutrient source; however I go in every couple of days and "clean house"
dump out the  frass, adding some fresh kleenex to simulate leaf shelter.  I
also keep them indoors, esp. at night; temp 75 - 85 F best. I have kept
clear 3mil plastic,saran wrap, etc. OVER the netting on the sides (top) of
my cardboard boxes in keep up the humidity, and monitor for "stress"...

My objective is to  maximize the number of adults reared from number of
larvae obtained.

Also - I had an unknown escapee (approx. 4th larval instar size)  that
pupated and emerged on my drapes no problem (for her) right on time!

Sharyn Fernandez
Concord CA
botany at flash.net