Lepidopteran pupa emergence question

[goosey]

Today was not such a nice day, windy, drizzly, 17 degrees but not feeling warm. Despite this a Small white butterfly emerged from her pupa/chrysalis this morning. She was in a sheltered place and I kept an eye on her all day and she made her maiden flight eventually around 4.40pm, we had a break in cloud and saw the first sunshine of the day.

Now the question ,
When butterflies and moths are ready to leave the pupa do they do so regardless of the weather?



I was surprised how yellow a fresh specimen is.

[paul m]

I think, by and large, it's a continuous process; once eclosure begins it can't be stopped. However, the timing of the whole process is considerably affected by ambient temperature so the insect is most likely to emerge during a warm spell.