Monarch Chrysalis turning white?

12 years ago

Hello,

I'd like to start by saying that I have emailed an expert about this. They told me that they've never seen this before and to just euthanize it. However, I live by the idea that nothing will die at my hands. So before anyone tells me I should euthanize this thing, I'd like you to know that I want to give it a fighting chance.

Now, I found this chrysalis on my patio. It had fallen and I would later discover that it suffered bruising from the fall. It was a fine looking chrysalis, albeit a little malformed from having to harden on a concrete patio apparently. I took it inside and carefully hung it up in my home to finish out its transformation. It's been about 2 weeks, which I know is pretty long for a monarch. I thought maybe it would overwinter? Then I noticed a white stripe appearing at the top around where the abdomen is. I found it odd, but continued to watch it. It's now turned completely white, except on the very top. I'm at a complete loss on why this would be turning white!

Has ANYONE seen this before??

Featured Answer

Stephen Long

3 years ago

I brought two chrysalis' inside as they were in a bad location, one normal green and one white. I had never seen a white chrysalis survive before, but thought I'd give it a try. On July 12th the green chrysalis hatched and I took the monarch outside and placed it on a milkweed plant where it dried it's wings and took off. I was thinking the white chrysalis simply didn't survive but decided to give it a couple of days. On the morning of July 14th a healthy monarch hatched out of the white chrysalis and I took it outside, where he flew away just a few minutes ago.

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Comments (10)

linda_tx8
12 years ago
Monarchs don't overwinter as chrysallises. There's nothing you can do for it...it's obviously gone. Haven't seen one looking quite like that, however.
mwahfromchrissy
11 years ago
Can you let us know the outcome? I am raising a monarch butterflies in my classroom & it looks exactly like this. Has it died?
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Michaela (Zone 5b - Iowa)
11 years ago
Chrissy - here is some info that covers pupas turning white. Thinking it might be the tachnid fly.

http://www.learnaboutmonarchs.com/learnabouthtachinidfly.html
Brandon Kenyon
10 years ago
It is decaying,if the crystlas fails to hatch for a long time it will turn white showing that its rotting away
KC Clark - Zone 2012-6a OH
10 years ago
This is an old post and the only post the OP ever made to Gardenweb.
HU-245831922
5 years ago
my dad takes in Monarch caterpillars and so i looked this up and this has been very helpful consitering that a Chrysalis is turning white...?
Melissa Price
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
I have a white one as well. Aug. 2022. I read this may be a queen? This is my first time trying my hand at raising monarchs. I had one transform into a butterfly, but sadly, I missed it leaving. I have one chrysalis that I can find, one disappeared, about 4 died, 2 after hanging in their J position- might be the spider r there that killed those. They ate 8 milkweed plants to the attends and I've been feeding acorn squash. Out of the 40 cats, I have only 9 cats left. The rest are gone. I can not find the chrysalises!
Melissa Price
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
Glad it survived!
Sarah Johnston
last year