Handling Pupae
If you only have one or a few pupae that have diapaused, it is best to construct and place it in an emergence container and overwinter it. Please see our Overwintering Techniques page for instructions.
If they
belong to a butterfly group where they will emerge immediately, place them in
the same emergence container.
The photos below comprise a short slide show on butterflies getting ready to emerge from their chrysalis.
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Danaus plexippus Emerges
All brushfoot butterflies from the superfamily Nymphaloidea (including Nymphalidae, Danaidae, and Satyridae) create a cremaster and pupate up-side-down. The best way to emerge brushfoots is to orient them the same way.
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Papilio eurymedon Pupa
Pale swallowtail pupa showing the developing wing pattern of the adult butterfly. When an adult butterly emerges, you need to make sure you have plenty of room for it to pump out its wings. This usually takes about 2-3 hours for swallowtails.
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Nathalis iole Pupa
The pupa of the dainty sulphur
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