Since your description states the wings never formed and you were not present when it eclosed, it might have been stuck in the case when it tried to expand (that is got free of after), veins could have been damaged so it could not pump the fluids into them or they could have leaked, it could be diseased, or a combination of all of them. It can't serve its major role in life to perpetuate the species, nor its minor roll of pollination, and will die soon enough anyway. So the right thing to do IMO is to humanely euthanize it and move on.

Thanks! I think you are right, that he got stuck when climbing out. ÃÂ It occurred to me later on that the pupal case?? was in a different spot after he eclosed, quite a few inches from where the chrysalis wAs when I checked on my lunch break. Now I'm concerned ÃÂ about the others (chrysalides) that are lying on floor! ÃÂ I raised them (about 50 cats) in plastic critter cages, grouped together by age/stage. So had anywhere from 5+ cats in each container. Whenever they got ready to pupate, I moved them to a plastic container with some sticks in it, covered with tulle. Of course, ÃÂ most of them chose to pupate on the container itself, rather than on the sticks. So I removed those chrysalides so
I could put them in mesh reptarium where they could climb and had enough room when it was time to eclose. ÃÂ I've ÃÂ had quite a few eclose, that were also placed on their sides on paper towels on floor of cage, ÃÂ all have been successful, except This one.ÃÂ ÃÂ I'm wondering now, if I should "stabilize" the pupa that are lying on theÃÂ floor somehow, because it seems like this one's trouble was caused by the chrysalis not being set in place, firmly attached to anything? I really don't think the butterfly is diseased, he was a fast growing, healthy cat, and other than the wings being deformed, he seems perfectly normal. ÃÂ Eats on his own,pretty much, if I just place him on the Gatorade soaked cotton. This is why the thought of euthanizing him bothers me, but if i knew for a fact that he would rather not live at all, than live inÃÂ captivity, ÃÂ unable to fly, reproduce & carry out its purpose in life, I would feel better about it. It's no trouble at all for me to feed him & keep him comfortable while he is alive, but if this quality of life isn't really "keeping him comfortable" and is only making me feel better, so to speak, then I would rather do what's in the best interest of the butterfly. And i just checked & another butterfly eclosed, and it's perfectly fine, it was attached to a stick, still worried about the ones that are on the floor! If you have any suggestions as to how i might prevent same from happening with others on floor, id appreciate it! Thanks!ÃÂ

Just wanted to chime in here - sorry about your butterfly. I think the wing problem was just one of those freak things. I started using the "floor only" method a while back, I think based on some advice from Larry himself :-) and it has worked great. I even go so far as to detach them from lids/sticks after they pupate and arrange them on the bottom of a mesh cage and have had no problems. So I think the ones on the floor will be fine. Good luck!