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Photo#12024
Pieridae chrysalis - Pieris rapae
Copyright © 2005 Robin McLeod

Pieridae chrysalis - Pieris rapae
Ailsa Craig, Middlesex, Ontario, Canada
November 9, 2004
Size: 18 mm
On fallen oak leaf. Another one of these has been fastened to the soffit of our house since early November.

Update: On 1 May 2005, the adult emerged, pictured here.

Images of this individual: tag all
Pieridae chrysalis - Pieris rapae Pieridae chrysalis - Pieris rapae
Contributed by Robin McLeod on 26 February, 2005 - 9:53pm
Last updated 5 December, 2012 - 11:36pm

I'd call this a chrysalis, since it has no silk cover,
which would, I believe, narrow it down to butterfly rather than moth species. The silken girdle seems to be a common anchoring technique - I've seen swallowtails and sulphurs do something similar. Hard to research pupae - as far as I know there's no guide for this life stage in particular.
… Hannah Nendick-Mason, 27 February, 2005 - 11:25am

 
white or sulphur chrysalis
Thanks for the pointer, Hannah. I found a few similar images of Pieridae species... the closest one was this Cabbage White - odds are pretty good that's it, as Cabbage Whites are common around here from April through October.
… Robin McLeod, 27 February, 2005 - 2:52pm

 
I think you got it!
Minor color variations are common in chrysalides and the shape looks just right.
… Hannah Nendick-Mason, 27 February, 2005 - 7:02pm

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