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reptilegardener777

Chrysalis v. Cannibalistic Siblings?

reptilegardener777
10 years ago

Hello, everybody--I wish my first post could have been under happier circumstances. Here is my dilemma: a couple of days ago, I removed some Cabbage White caterpillars from my mustard greens, and decided to raise them out of curiosity. Today, one of them pupated, and the other one is preparing to. However, the other caterpillars in the tank have started to chew on the chrysalis (even though they have fresh mustard leaves in the tank). I tried carefully removing the chrysalis with a tooth pick, but I can't quite dislodge the silk on the very end. It's hanging by that one piece of silk from the top of the tank--should I keep trying to move it before it gets eaten, or leave it for 24 hours to harden? Also, what should I do with the caterpillar who is beginning to pupate?

Thanks in advance for your advice!

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