Posted by Dev on February 21, 2003 at 14:50:16:
In Reply to: Re: Need Some Advice... posted by proteus on February 20, 2003 at 23:22:50:
Thanks for the information. As of right now, the butterfly is still in the same spot, and appears to be feeding on some of the pollen from the flowers located on the plant it is perched on. I don’t know how long it can hold up, but at least I tried to help it I suppose.
:I'm sorry, to have to be the one to tell you this , but it sounds to me like the butterfly is'nt going to make it. From my few years of studying entomology (especially lepidopterans -the order of butterflies and moths-). An insect's exoskeleton cannot grow, they have to molt. If they've actually grown after a molt it's called an instar; and they're are several larval (caterpillar) instars leading up to pupation... but I've never heard of any adult butterfly actually shedding it's exuviae (cast of old skin). So once they come out of the chrysalis/cocoon, the growing/changing/etc. is over. No shedding, no growing new wings.
::I really have no knowledge concerning butterflies, but I love and respect nature very much so I am in need of some advice or information concerning a Monarch butterfly. I live in West Palm Beach, Florida and for the past few months this same Monarch butterfly (the only butterfly for that matter) has been visiting my flower garden everyday. In fact, I swear he or she only visits my garden when I am outside sitting on the back patio during the day.
::Well, today I was watching it fly around as usual, and then two seconds later the butterfly is lying on the ground next to my pool unable to fly. Upon closer investigation it was apparent that it suffered damage to two of its right wings. It is as if both of them shriveled up to half their size resembling burnt plastic almost.
::Now there are plenty of small lizards, waterfowl and other various birds which frequent my yard mainly due to the warm climate and the fact my home is located on a lake. However, I did not see any around at the time I discovered the butterfly disabled on the ground, which leads me to believe that something else may have caused the damage to its wing.
::The only other thing that comes to mind is that I have a couple of large “Crown of Thorne” plants in my garden which he or she may have gotten caught on, hence the damage to its wings. The odd thing is I have seen the butterfly land and feed on the flowers of these plants numerous times without any problems.
::Anyway, at the moment the butterfly is just resting on a plant of mine outside in an area of my garden which is sort of hidden from birds and other predators. In fact, when I was handling the butterfly it did not even want to leave my hand as if it felt safer with me then being left grounded and alone.
::So is there anyway that Monarch butterflies can grow a new set of wings? Is the damage permanent? Will it eventually die as a result of this damage? Is there anything I can do for it? Please let me know because I really would like to help it anyway I can. I mean, if it just sits in the same place it will either eventually get eaten by something or die of starvation.
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