How long do yall tend to wait before checking the pupal cell?

[Endereye]

Hi yall, I have 2 D. Derbyanas who have started pupation a little under 2 months ago, and I’ve put off checking the cells because I obviously don’t wanna disturb them. I have read that it takes between 1-2 months for them to eclose, but I’m not sure if that’s the point where I should check their cell. I know that they aren’t gonna be fully mature right after eclosion and that they need some time to harden and mature before being fully active. Should I check them at the 2 month mark or wait a little longer? Thank you!

 

[JKim]

They will naturally come up to the surface, but if you are willing to check (with risk), you can do it anytime. I would gather some materials like wet floral foam in case you find them in pupal stage. Do you see them through the wall side of the container? or do you assume they are in pupal stage? If so, what makes you think they are in pupal stage? This is quite important questions before you start digging them up.

 

[Endereye]

They will naturally come up to the surface, but if you are willing to check (with risk), you can do it anytime. I would gather some materials like wet floral foam in case you find them in pupal stage. Do you see them through the wall side of the container? or do you assume they are in pupal stage? If so, what makes you think they are in pupal stage? This is quite important questions before you start digging them up.

I found their pupal cells. I dug one up a little over 2 months ago and accidentally broke it's chamber, but luckily it hadn't started pupation yet to it dug out and made a new one, which I found and am not touching. I haven't seen them once in all this time since then (they're not on the wall sides of their containers), but I can observe the hardened substrate, which I assume is their pupal cell.