If you are wondering what the string is about, I typically leave the caterpillars to grow in my garden left to the perils of the "nature in the wild". Then often when they reach their final instar and are getting ready to go "walkabouts" to pupate, I put them each in a jar by themselves with some leaves and seal the jar with a paper towel and rubber band. I add leaves as necessary if the caterpillar is still feeding.
The caterpillars pupate on the paper towel lid and then before they get to the point of eclosing, I cut out a small piece of paper towel around the crestar (the stem the chrysalis hangs from), tie some thin nylon cord around the crestar with a non-slip knot, and then tie the chrysalis to a plant outside that is shaded. I have found that branches like this that are at approximately a 45 degree angle work best for them to hang from and dry out their wings when they eclose.
Why, you may ask, after I had left them to their own devices do I interfere with nature like this at the last minute? I admit that I find it hard not to meddle and I rationalize it in my mind by saying something like: "They ate all that milkweed and if a wasp were to eat them up at this point or some such thing, it would just be such a waste of all those leaves!"
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