Can anything be done to help crumpled butterflies?

[Velasa]

Hello, I'm new here because I'm worried about one of our little ones outside.

First I'll note (as a quick glance through the post here tells me most of these butterflies are hand reared) that these are wild little monarchs who show up on the milkweed we planted outside for them. Long story short most of them end up fine but one of the caterpillars picked a less than ideal spot to make a chrysalis and my mother only found it by chance under a small table with its wet wings stuck to the underside somehow and gently removed it to somewhere safer. I only got home that night to hear the story and it was still crumpled. A day later on top of that the butterfly is still crumpled and seemingly unable to fly.

I moved it over to the butterfly bush so that it could eat, and I've been going outside frequently to make sure it hasn't fallen but I don't know if there's anything I can really do for the little one. You guys seem like you would have the best idea of what's possible, so I'm grateful for any advice you might have.

And for the future if we get a batch next year that sets up in bad spots, what would be the best way to relocate outside butterflies who set up their chrysalises in bad spots?

[Mona Miller]

Either you can keep inside and feed as a pet or let them enjoy some time outside. There is nothing to do about crumpled wings especially if both are crumpled.

If you feel it can't even feed, then refrigerate and freeze (this is a hard choice).

If the pupae set up in a bad spot, the only thing to do is try to relocate before they emerge. Wait until the chrysalis has harded, mist with water, and then the whole silk pad will easily come up. The water loosens all the silk. Then pin it somewhere that you are sure it can inflate its wings. I use net containers because if they fall, then they can climb back up easily.

[BlizzardNole]

I have one that has both right wings slightly crumpled and a little smaller than the left wings. His chrysalis fell when new and got a little flattened on one side. I was actually surprised that it hatched at all.

He will have to spend his lifespan with us. He can only fly about 10 feet when let go from four feet off the ground.

Oddly, he rejected the butterfly nectar I bought from Monarch Watch...instead he prefers sugar water. Mona told me they really like the fierce melon gatorade -- I'm gonna try that.

[Velasa]

Thank you. I'll just check on it every once and a while to see if it needs help back onto the bush while I can still find it. I saw it feeding when I first put it on there so I know it can, and though nohing can really be done, I can at least keep the little one from being hungry for a while.

I'll definately take a note about the mister, thank you. The chrystalis is properly hardened when it's solid green with the small gem-like spots around the top, correct?

[Mona Miller]

Yes and no on the color and spots. The spots will appear, but the chryalis can still be soft. Wait at least 24 hours for it to harden before misting and moving chrysalis.