I’ve had a butterfly pupa in the garden for at least 4 weeks, which just won’t come out. Now that the nights are already quite cold, I wonder if the animal is still alive, and if I cut off the twig it sticks to and take it inside. Your advice please. Thank you in advance. Sincerely
Answer
Hi Petra,
Many butterflies indeed have a long pupal stage. They pupate before winter and spend it as a pupa. They hatch in the spring. But that is not a hard and fast rule. Some butterflies have two generations per year and then the postadium of one of those generations is rather short.
I don’t think it’s a good idea to bring the animal inside. A sudden rise in temperature will give the impression that it is spring. Then the butterfly hatches but will not find a mate anymore. Patience seems the best solution here.
Kind regards,
Rudy
Answered by
Dr Rudy Jocque
Arachnology Zoology Biodiversity
Leuvensesteenweg 13 3080Tervuren
http://www.africamuseum.be
.