Head capsule stuck to pupa

Oak

Oak

Goliathus
anyone ever had a problem where the head capsule of the larva was stuck to the pupa?

If so, is there a safe way to get rid of the head?

 
How tightly stuck is it? Is there any crack or gap? I would think you could get in there with cuticle scissors and snip it in half but only if there is a way to get the scissor next to the pupa under the head capsule.

It's a new one on me.

 
If it was unable to molt completely and the head capsule did not come off before the pupa began to harden, the pupa will be deformed even if you remove the head capsule. The resulting beetle will most likely not have functioning mouthparts if it manages to complete its development as a pupa and emerge as an malformed adult.

 
This happened to me a few weeks ago-- one of my A. dochotoma beetles had the head capsule stuck on, and it only had four grublike legs.... Needless to say it's probably not worth the nigh-surgical trouble it takes to get it off, because your beetle will most likely be malformed and may not be able to eat.

 
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