proboscis issue

[chanceychelsey]

I had a female emerge yesterday. When I checked her, the larger set of wings were nice and straight but the smaller ones had not straightened at all. I checked later and all four wings looked nice and straight. One of the small ones looked like it had a drop of abdo liquid on it.
Today I tagged her along with the others and put them out on the butterfly bush. I was still concerned about that mark on her wing. Later when I checked I found her on the grass, unable to fly. I then noticed that her proboscis is extended, not coiled, and she doesn't seem to be able to re-coil it. I do not know whether to attempt a wing repair or not. I am not sure if she is capable of eating.
Any suggestions or similar experiences?

Waystation 927
Tottenham, Ontario

[stacey16]

I've had monarchs who haven't been able to connect the two pieces of their proboscis together (caused by OE) and it doesn't coil properly. Have you tried feeding her at all?

[chanceychelsey]

She has no real interest in eating. I just put her on some sedum and her proboscis kind of searches around, but she doesn't act like the other normal ones. Also, although her wings look okay, other than that one mark, she does not try to fly at all. She is one of my last ones, so there is a good chance I got her from the garden as a 3rd or 4th instar, so who knows what happened to her while she was outside. I try to grab everyone as an egg, but unfortunately I do miss some.
I just finished driving my last 4 and one chrysalis who looks like it will emerge today to Niagara Falls so they'd have a head start on travelling, and unfortunately the little girl had to come back home with me.
I'm not sure whether to euthanize or not. If she is not eating, which appears is the case I probably will. She has been out for 4 days now.

Waystation 927
Tottenham, Ontario

[Mona Miller]

"stacey16" I've had monarchs who haven't been able to connect the two pieces of their proboscis together (caused by OE) and it doesn't coil properly. Have you tried feeding her at all?

I have a friend who has had butterflies where the proboscis doesn't go together. She takes a toothpick and exercises the proboscis. She has had success getting them to recoil and stay together with this procedure. She has also found after testing that hers do not have OE. Test before you assume that problem is OE. It may not be the case.

[chanceychelsey]

Mona,

She has absolutely no desire to fly or even try. That and the proboscis makes me wonder how long she can survive. As I posted earlier, her smaller of the four wings was slow to straighten when she emerged. I think there is more to her problems than just her proboscus.

I hate euthanizing but I don't want her to starve to death, and she has no desire to go anywhere.

Thanks.

Waystation 927
Tottenham, Ontario

[Mona Miller]

They don't normally want to eat in captivity for 1-2 days. But, I do mist the cage with water.

[stacey16]

I have a friend who has had butterflies where the proboscis doesn't go together. She takes a toothpick and exercises the proboscis. She has had success getting them to recoil and stay together with this procedure.

Good to know. I'll keep that in mind for the future.

[Mona Miller]

My friend said it took 2-3 days for them to behave better and for the proboscis to go together. She is persistent and doesn't give up easily. She also tests them for OE.