Quick exit from Cocoon

Black Swallowtail Butterfly

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I sent the following letter to Dave Wagner, author of The Caterpillars of Northeast North America, and the preeminent expert on caterpillars in America:

Dear Dave,

Here's a question:

Nick Wagerik saw the cocoon we've been following since last October on 5/10, and could see the outlines of the butterfly through the shell. When he arrived the next day, at 1 pm, the cocoon was empty. Yet it was pouring that morning until about 9 a.m. Could the butterfly have completed emergence, wing drying etc, between 9am and 1 pm?

Cheers, Marie

His answer:

Yep, easily....only takes an hour....once the decision is made things happen fast.