Parasitized Monarch Chrysalis (with labels) - Danaus plexippus

This photo shows some interesting anatomical features. First, it's a female, which is determined by looking at the area below the cremaster (black 'stick' attached to silk). If there is a vertical line between/underneath the bottom two black dots, then the chrysalis has a female monarch. This one has that vertical line and thus was a female. The head is located at the bottom of the chrysalis and the line that goes down the center is the proboscis. The dark, upside down V shape are the antennae. The areas to the left and right (with gold dots) are the wings.

This chrysalis was dead and had a hole in its side. The most likely cause of death was tiny, parasitic chalcid wasps.

These wasps lay eggs in soft chrysalises. They do this by following caterpillars that are about to pupate, and then laying eggs in the new chrysalis. The wasp larvae eat the insides of the chrysalis, and then emerge as adults.

I took the chrysalis home to dissect, but found only brown goo on the inside.

Habitat: Garden