We've been having a so-so butterfly season... I found this little one yesterday, struggling to pump liquid to all its wings... today I found it again, still struggling, still crumpled but less than yesterday. I was wondering if I should house it on the boys' 'butterfly hotel', to see if it can spread that remaining wing section?

You may be able to tape the wing. https://www.livemonarch.com/ho...

I don't think I have the pulse to do that...

Honestly, if one comes out like that at MOSI, I put it down. If the wings are that messed up, they're not going to "right" themselves. Once the wings finish hardening, I've never seen them change. And with Monarchs, in particular, you have to suspect whether they are infected with OE spores which is not something you want to pass on. But even if it that wasn't the case, something went wrong with this butterfly and under normal circumstances it would not be able to survive in nature (for very long, at least). So I would say this is probably one that we want to filter from the gene pool.

In my small backyard, it is frustrating- hAlf of the monarchs end up with o.e.
I've taught the boys to distinguish the pupas.
We housed the butterfly for a couple of days but unfortunately the Orkin person came and was not careful. They were sad, but we gave it a garden burial.
We still have ten cats and five good pupas developing.

If you have really bad outbreaks of OE, I suggest cutting back your plants so they will produce new leaves that are (hopefully) OE free. And if you raise the caterpillars inside, wash everything that comes into contact with them with a vinegar solution. We got it really bad at the museum once and that's what we did. I've heard it gets worse in late summer since it has had several generations to pass to at that point. I haven't had too many problems with OE in a while, but those parasitic flies get way too many of my Monarchs.

Wow... didn't know you could repair a broken wing...how awesome!! Has anyone actually tried it?? does it really work??

Happy to see this one made it out today nice and healthy.

Such a mixed bag this season... this one came out this morning and was on its side but very much alive... crumpled wings. We took it in to give it time to unfold a little more. It's doing better than this morning, but I'm not sure it will make it.

I cut down most of our milkweed. Hopefully that will help.

You can feed them sugar water or hummingbird nectar and add fresh cut flowers or a potted milkweed plant.

Low humidity can affect emergence, do you mist the pupa with water daily using a spray bottle?

If you keep the butterflies captive with milkweed they will mate and lay eggs so you can raise more or keep as pets.