Please help!

Hello Ethan,

would be important to know what species we are talking about, "tropical" butterflies is not really a suficient description, as butterflies of different countries have different needs...

Maybe you could tell us which species have died, where they came from, etc. etc. - otherwise I guess your question cannot be answered...

Regards

Thomas

Hello Ethan,

I usually keep the pupae at 80*F (27*C). At night, let them cool down to 65-68*F (18-20*C). A small wet sponge inside the cage. Not to much humidity, c. 60%RH. Freshly emerged butterflies should not be too active. So I keep the cage darkened all day long, unless I come home from work and set them "free".

If 30% of the pupae have already died the transport may have been too long. In this case they appear dark brown on arrival. Last stage before eclosion.

Good luck

Hello Ethan,

if the pupae are very wet, eclosion may be impossible. The pupal case may be so soft and flexible that it cannot be broken from inside. I don't spray them directly.

That's exactly what I did. I made my personal "foam cooler" with styrodur (similar to Styropor but harder). A commercial netted insect cage fits into the box. So the emerging butterflies can get a hold.

Then I put a heating pad inside which is temperature regulated as described above. Some humidity by a wet sponge. A humidifier would be even better. You should check temperature and humidity constantly.

The pupae don't mind the darkness. Most of them come from overseas and suffer from jetlag, anyhow. They soon get used to the new day-night rhythm. From the second day on, they begin to emerge in the morning time as is normal in the wild.