Thanks, guys. I always prefer to understand these things instead of just going "Ooh! Pretty!", especially as there are little people around here who're bound to expect me to know. Congratulations on what looks to me like a pretty unique photo. It's one that I'll remember :) (I'm like you....

Hi Vince, Thank you so much for all the good information. Once I'm sure that the pupa is completely empty of all occupants I'll dissect it and take a look at it under my microscope. I'm now thinking of buying that DSLR microscope adapter that's been on my wish list for too long :) I still haven't fo...

Hi Pagurus, and welcome to UK Butterflies. This looks like a classic case of parasitism by a tachinid fly. The fly grub has been developing within the body of the caterpillar and has now emerged through the wall of the chrysalis. It has used a silk "rope" to get to the ground and crawled ...

Hi - it sounds like this pupa was, indeed, parasitised and that the "guy rope" is a thread spun by the parasitic larva as it leaves its host. I think your last shot shows the exit hole. It's now probably wandered off to pupate somewhere (and might still be in the vicinity). The parasite i...

Good morning :) I’d be very grateful if anyone here could tell me what’s happening to this small tortoiseshell chrysalis. Two days ago I noticed it on the east-facing wall of a house (looking pinker than it is in the warm rising-sun light). Yesterday (cool storm-cloud light) it had a kind of guy rop...