Cleaning the Butterfly House

[TNTMonarch]

I have a cylinder butterfly house that came with Painted Ladies we raised in October. We still have one Painted Lady as his wings were maimed. He has been enjoying oranges and jumping around this little house.

I was cleaning the House every 2 weeks or so and would just put the painted lady on the table for my kids to watch knowing he couldn't go anywhere.

Now that we have 6 Monarchs, which are giants compared to the little painted lady, and the painted lady, the net sides are getting covered in the liquid waste. I can't just set 6 perfectly mobile butterflies on the table.

What should I do to clean the house. Can the I carefully spray it with the butterflies still in it? Is there a way I can take the Monarchs out without having them fly off and trying to recapture them?

Thanks

[Jim]

Adult monarch butterflies may be carefully placed into envelopes and moved into the refrigerator for temporary holding. We typically use glassine (stamp) envelopes, but paper ones will do just fine in a pinch. You can also make little paper triangles. The envelopes keep the monarchs from flapping their wings around and possibly damaging them and the refrigerator will cool them down so they are not very active.

Hope this helps - good luck!