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Photo#607950
 parasitized Monarch pupa/chrysalis - Danaus plexippus

parasitized Monarch pupa/chrysalis - Danaus plexippus
Columbia/Garth Nature Area, Boone County, Missouri, USA
October 24, 2011
Size: 1" or so

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parasitized Monarch pupa/chrysalis - Danaus plexippus  parasitized Monarch pupa/chrysalis - Danaus plexippus

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Moved from ID Request.

It makes us think of the Monarch
but it doesn't look very healthy??

 
Thanks!
Wow - so the very different coloration could be because it's not doing so good? I've a lot to learn.

 
ooh, better yet!
pry open the chrysalis and take a picture of the larvae
it shouldn't hurt it, just don't crush the chrysalis in the process

 
I had one just like it, fall of last year.
It is a Monarch (Danaus plexippus) chrysalis that is parasitized.
You should expect some type of flying insect to emerge.

I had a Monarch caterpillar (last fall) J-hook to a pot of a potted plant I brought inside. I forgot about it until I found a small wasp/bee/fly sort of creature flying around. The cats killed it eventually, but it was relatively small, but large enough to get noticed. It left a hole about 5/64 of inch in the chrysalis.

 
I've had them get like that f
I've had them get like that from disease too.

 
What a surprise
like Forest Gump - don't know what you got til you bite into it! Thanks all for the comments and information.

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