Heliconius pupae

Good morning,

A friend of mine have kindly sent me 14 pupae of Heliconius melpomene. Sadly, five butterflies haven't come entirely out of their chrysalis : although their head and first legs were freed, they couldn't take off their wings and abdomen which seem stuck to the tegument of the pupa. I tried several conditions to see if temperatures too high or humidity too low were the root of the problem. Strangely enough, conditions at coming out didn't seem to me to be important in this case. Maybe conditions at pupal development ? Could someone tell me what he thinks about the causes of this matter ?

Also, I do not have any nectar plant now, thus I use an artificial plastic flower filled up with sugary water to feed my imagos. Problem is that their proboscis is often overlaid by sugar crystals what seems bad for next feedings by blocking the proboscis. What is the best concentration of saccharose I have to use ? 10% ?

Many thanks for your help,

Rémi

Hello Jasius and Anneke,

Many thanks for your answers ! :fröhlich:

Zitat

About misformed adults: Mainly caused by transport-post.

Zitat

Too cold temp, drop in mositure, shaken AND stirred.
Pupae are quit fragile. So not all will hatch perfectly.

Oh, that is certainly the reason! My impatience pushed me to see them closer, then I must have unintentionally shaken them. I would have a last question : what are the best conditions for the pupal development, especially here, for Heliconius' pupae ? Would it be better to store the chrysalis at lower temperatures and humidity than the opposite ?

Zitat

About feeding.

Zitat

Honey can cause the block of proboscis. Use in a small glass 3-4 drops of suckre. So that it can go all into solution.

I don't clearly see what you mean by "3-4 drops of sugar"... Something like a teaspoon of sugar into approx. 100 mL of water ? You're right, I used honey — and now that you've said it, I remember not having had much problems before, with pure sugar.

Zitat

Originally posted by anneke

Zitat

They also need "Pollen" to eat. just a few on a plate. you can buy them in "Natureshops"
I don't know the exact word.

I see, french beekeepers usually send pollen in garden shops or even supermarkets. But it is sold in the shape of little amalgamated balls I have to crush with difficulty into a fine powder so that butterflies can pick it up. Nevertheless, I haven't seen them eating pollen yet, they fly around but don't seem interested ; pollen is in a red plastic plate, I hope they've noticed it.

Cheers !