Slow to Fly

[NickiM]

I had a lovely female eclose last Saturday. She seemed perfectly fine, but she couldn't fly. She flapped her wings, but couldn't get any lift--just fluttered to the ground. So I brought her back inside. The next morning I offered her some watermelon juice, which she drank immediately! A couple of hours later, when it was nice and warm outside, I took her out to put her on my butterfly bush, and she flew away!! You would never have known that she couldn't fly the day before. I guess she needed some nutrition before she felt like flying.

[Mona Miller]

She may have needed more time to dry her wings. I think you did the right thing.

[NickiM]

I was so glad to see that she could fly. I thought she was going to be a "pet", but would much rather she be outside and hopefully contribute many little Monarch babies. I couldn't see a proboscis that first day, and I thought she might be malformed. But, as soon as her feet touched that watermelon juice her proboscis unrolled and you could see that juice disappear.

I had 3 eclose on Friday, but decided to keep them inside until today due to storms in the forecast. And, I'm glad I did, it rained so hard. I don't hardly see how something as seemingly delicate as a butterfly can survive during such hard rain and high winds. I offered these 3 watermelon juice this morning, but they didn't seem to want it. I waited a little while and gave them some honey water. I had to unroll their probosci to get them started, but they all drank quite happily. I released them about an hour later.

I'm so glad to be able to find information like this board and to get advice from those of you who are more experienced raising these beautiful creatures. I really appreciate all of you answering my questions, and I just want to say thank you.