Releasing in cooler weather...

[velodurt]

I just had a monarch eclose this morning but the weather is cooler (mid 60's) and overcast, no rain at the moment - is it okay to release the butterfly later today?

[Mona Miller]

What is the forecast for tomorrow and the next day? I have often kept Monarchs for a day just so they can dry their wings more. They don't need to eat. But, do mist the cage (not the butterfly), they do need water.

[velodurt]

Hi Mona, thx for the water advice-forecast is the same for the next 3-4 days. Should I keep him that long? just out of curiosity, What do they do in nature if they eclose in this weather?

[Mona Miller]

They would probably not eclose outside in this weather. The pupa would wait until the weather got warmer. They won't eclose in rain either.

If you keep them more than 2 days, do offer food.

You can also hand feed them, here is a video on doing that:
http://www.learner.org/jnorth/tm/monarc ... gFink.html

You can offer juice (10%) or gatorade or sugar water.

If the butterfly is banging its wings, then place them in a dark room. The darkness calms them down.

[velodurt]

Ok sun has peaked out today but winds are 10-20 and the high is 66-keep him awhile longer?

[Paul Cherubini]

Ok sun has peaked out today but winds are 10-20 and the high is 66-keep him awhile longer?

Winds and 60's temps are no problem. 1000's of monarchs in the wild have emerged in Ohio the past two days and are now nectaring, clustering, etc. Check Journey North for "fall roosts" - 200 were seen clustering in an Ohio town on Sept. 5

[Mona Miller]

That should be okay, if their wings are thoroughly dry. They can hold on in 35 mph winds.

[velodurt]

So is the main condition sunshine? I mean can you release in overcast conditions along as it's not raining?

I haven't seen him feeding or drinking yet, but I do have him in an emergence chamber with potted salvia and butterflybush flowers and water

[velodurt]

I now have another male too! And it looks like several chrysalis will be eclosing this week!

[Mona Miller]

So is the main condition sunshine? I mean can you release in overcast conditions along as it's not raining?
I haven't seen him feeding or drinking yet, but I do have him in an emergence chamber with potted salvia and butterflybush flowers and water

They will fly in cloudy, light rain, but I wouldn't let a 24 hour old butterfly out in those conditions. I would wait until the next day. Most will just seek shelter and wait.

They need temps of at least 55 to fly, but I've seen them sailing over a mountain in PA when the temp in the parking lot was less than 40. It's hard to figure out exactly what they can't or can take. But, we do know that they cannot take freezing temps and being wet for more than 2-3 days--this is why they migrate.

[Mia Monarch!]

I had 4 butterfies that have emerge today! Sadly, I had to euthenize one as it's hind wings were small and a bit deformed. This one came from the chrysalis that had several black dots on it and I wondered about OE or some other issue. I have enclosed a pic (again!) of the affected chrysalis and the butterfly. I hope I did the right thing!

What I am wondering now, is to when I should release them! It is supposed to get close to freezing tonight and is just 61 degrees outside, now, and breezey. Thurs is to be 57 with mid 40s at night (pm showers). Fri. is 60/49, Sat. a bit warmer and Sun. in the 80's. That would be the ideal day, I think, but I don't know about keeping them that long. Right now, as I write, the butterflies are only 6-8 hrs. old, so just babies!!

Right now, they have a vase with blue salvia and flowers from a butterfly bush, plus I do have butterfly nectar that I can put in with them. They are not in a large container - actually a med. sized plastic hamster cage! Hopefully, that is OK!

Are they OK for a few days with these amenities, or should I refrigerate them? I could probably get some wax envelopes tomorrow.

Thank you so much!!

[Mona Miller]

I think we discussed this earlier. Scroll back up and look at the information.

[Mia Monarch!]

I apologize for the repeat question
Included was a question, wondering if I did the right thing, euthenizing the one butterfly, plus about refrigerating. Being brand new to this, I didn't know if it was BEST to do that or let them be on the flowers, etc. for several days.
Thanks!

[Mona Miller]

If you released the butterfly on the flowers, it would be better to test it for OE first. A day in the sun is better than no days at all.

If you felt that the butterfly wasn't doing well, then you did do the right thing. It's not an easy thing to do at all.