Butterfly Can't Hold On

[donnap27]

i've never had this problem in over 700 releases .... i put one outside on a leaf and it fell, i picked it up and tried again .... no luck. i brought him back in and put in container with paper towel. he stood on the bottom and i could see the paper towel discoloring around his feet ....
could i have possibly tore his little feet off when i released him from the paper towel??????? ...i feel horrible!
i've check him for OE and he is clean ...
thanks for your thoughts
Donna

[Mona Miller]

How long do you wait before you release? Monarch Watch has been advising people to wait 24 hours so the wings harden more.

Unless you pulled the butterfly really hard off the paper towel, I don't see how you could have torn its feet.

[donnap27]

i didn't realize they were recommending 24 hrs ..... i usually release when they start fluttering around, like they want out ... but that is usually around 4 hrs ... i will wait 24 from now on ... thank you! sooooooo, that brings up another question: do they recommend that you not test them for OE until 24 hrs as well ?
as for the feet, ... i know, i can't imagine i pulled him that hard either. he can fly, ... by tomorrow, if he can't hold on .... would you recommend euthenizing him ? it's hard to do, but i do it when they are infected; i think it is the right thing to do.
thanks, Mona ... i really appreciate your dedication to this forum .. it must be tedious !
Donna

[Mona Miller]

If they are fluttering too much in the container, then place the containers in the dark. Yes, 24 hours is recommended. I'd probably wait to test for OE, too. You do not need to feed the first 24 hours.

If he is able to fly, then let him go free.

Did you read what Dr. Altizer recently told me about OE?

http://www.monarchwatch.org/forums/view ... f=6&t=2938

I love answering questions, I do not find it tedious at all. Plus, I learn a lot from most people on this forum.