Raising monarch butterflies is an amazing nature activity for kids and families. Watching the transformation from hungry caterpillar to chrysalis to beautiful butterfly is pretty cool! But sometimes a chrysalis falls and knowing how to rehang a fallen monarch chrysalis safely is important to help the butterfly continue to develop.
If you’re in the same boat, here’s a step-by-step guide to safely rehang a fallen chrysalis and use the opportunity for hands-on homeschool science.
Understanding the Monarch Chrysalis
Before you begin, take a few moments to learn about the structure of the monarch chrysalis with your kids. This helps them better understand why it’s important to be gentle.
We used this moment to explore our free monarch life cycle printable (coming soon!) and identify the stages.
Learning moment: The chrysalis attaches to a surface using a silk pad and a part called the cremaster (a little black stem at the top). This acts like a tiny anchor to keep the chrysalis safe in storms and wind.
If the chrysalis falls, it’s usually because the silk pad has come loose, either from movement or an unstable surface. Ours may have fallen when we adjusted the mesh roof of our enclosure.
What to Do If a Monarch Chrysalis Falls
Step 1: Examine the Chrysalis
Gently check the chrysalis for any signs of damage. If it’s still firm and unpunctured, the butterfly inside is likely safe.
Our kids spotted some small black dots near the cremaster. That turned into a fun research project. See the footnotes below for what we learned!
Step 2: Gather Your Materials
Clean tweezers or sanitized fingers
Soft paper towel
Clean thread or dental floss (we used plain dental floss)
Safety pin
A safe rehanging spot (like your butterfly enclosure or a quiet shelf)
Step 3: Safely Handling a Detached Monarch Chrysalis
Wash your hands first to avoid transferring oils.
Gently lift the chrysalis by the silk pad, never the body.
If the silk pad is missing or too damaged, you can glue or tape thread gently to the top instead. (Supervise kids closely here!)
Step 4: How to Rehang a Fallen Monarch Chrysalis Step-by-Step
Choose a spot with good airflow and protection from direct sunlight or disturbance.
Tie the thread around the silk pad and pin or tape it securely to a mesh lid or surface. Make sure the chrysalis hangs freely, not touching anything.
We followed these steps on how to rehang a fallen monarch chrysalis and used plain floss to secure ours to the mesh roof of the enclosure.
Step 5: Watch Your Rehung Chrysalis for Changes
Check the chrysalis each day to ensure it stays secure. As it matures, it will slowly turn darker and more transparent.
This stage is full of excitement! The kids loved watching for color changes and signs that our butterfly was getting close to emerging.
Emergence Time!
When the chrysalis turns nearly clear, it’s almost time! Try not to disturb the area. Soon, your monarch will emerge and hang to dry its wings before flying.
Final Thoughts (and Fun Science Facts!)
While we wished our chrysalis hadn’t fallen, it ended up being a great science lesson and bonding activity. The kids made observations, asked questions, and helped fix the problem hands-on.
Here are some cool facts we learned together:
What are those black dots?
We discovered that monarch chrysalises have spiracles, tiny breathing holes along the sides. These connect to air tubes (tracheae) that bring oxygen to the body!
Can you tell if it’s a boy or girl?
Yes! Use your phone to snap a photo near the cremaster. Zoom in:
• Female: A line or indent
• Male: A tiny “dimple” with a smile shape underneath
After emergence, you can also check the wings:
• Males have a black spot on each hind wing
• Females have thicker black veins and no spots
What are the gold dots?
These tiny gold spots might help regulate temperature or provide camouflage. Scientists are still studying their exact purpose, which is a fun mystery for kids to guess about!
Keep Exploring
Want to raise your own monarchs from egg to butterfly?
Click here to read our full guide! And if you want more info on creating your own butterfly garden, head on over here.