I don't know about the refrigerator...leaving them in a cool location of your house is probably the best thing.

I had three that I kept in the basement successfully. However, one emerged rather early - before much was in bloom. I released it and moved the other two outside in the "real" world. They emerged much later and all were healthy. :)

Sandy

I keep mine in the garage.
I think it's probably important to spray them with water once a month.

Thanks, all. Should I put them outside before they pupate or after? And do they need any protection outside (I'm thinking that I'll put them on our roofed patio; otherwise I doubt I would know when they eclose.
-Jmcat

I have quite a few that are overwintering in my enclosure. I kept the ones I had last year outside but put them into the shed when it would get below 20 degrees. Kept them out of the rain. They emerged in the early spring just as beautiful as ever.

Ok, maybe a dumb question, but how do you know which ones are gonna over winter?

Kek19- In this case, I am guessing based on the average number of broods and the normal BST season. So no, I don't really know for sure that these will overwinter, but I figure I should be prepared for it if they do.
-Jmcat

Jmcat, could you enlighten me a little on what a normal BST season is? I just started finding them. I have some that are currently pupating, and 3 2-3rd instars. I'm not sure what to expect.

The easiest answer as to which ones will overwinter is that they never emerge from their crystalis and just keep hanging there. They stay firm and are usually brown. They just hang there and hang there. This fall you will know how many you will have. I have no idea what makes them emerge and what makes them overwinter. If they don't emerge, there going to overwinter. As long as their crystalis stay firm, keep them.

Kek19- I got the life cycle season from "The Life Cycles of Butterflies" By Judy Burris (She visits this forum as butterfly_pixie) and Wayne Richards. It has the life cycle season of BST's as Apr- Sep, which is what I'm going off of.
-Jmcat