Are these diseased?

[iwritecode]

Hi,
I am attaching 2 photos of 2 Monarchs in different life-cycle. The Monarch butterfly from the pupa did emerge, but I was wondering if the weird looking cut meant that it has Oe? What about the spot on the cat? Is that normal?

Hope someone can enlighten us.

Thanks.

[Mona Miller]

The spot on the caterpillar could be from getting bitten by another caterpillar. The wound in the chrysalis could be from it being silked over by another caterpillar and the skin snagged then the outer part of the chrysalis snagged--if no other caterpillars were involved then it is just a defect. Wow, I'm glad it emerged okay.

Did you test for OE? That is the only way to tell 100%.

http://www.monarchparasites.org/
Click on "Testing for Parasites"

[iwritecode]

This is the first time we've reared any type of butterfly. It's been an interesting and amazing experience. What is the quickest way to find out if butterfly is infected with OE? On one site, it said to inspect the tail (http://www.learnaboutmonarchs.com/learn ... spore.html). I read somewhere that you can send in a card with "taped" tails, but wouldn't that mean I'd have to keep the butterflies around? Any other quick method you can provide?

Thanks for the info!

[Mona Miller]

I posted the main website, but here is the link for "Testing" and signs of infection.
http://monarchparasites.uga.edu/testing/index.html

Basically, you take clear tape and press that gently on the butterflies abdomen. That is where most of the spores are located. Place that on a white piece of paper. Index cards are good. Then, you take a lighted microscope and check to see if you see spores. The website below has pictures.

http://www.monarchparasites.org/
What is OE
OE spores are dormant cells found on the outside of infected monarchs. These tiny spores are sandwiched in between the scales that cover a butterfly’s body. The greatest concentration of spores is usually on the abdomen. Spores are much smaller than scales. In fact, a monarch scale is about 100 times larger than an OE spore. You must use a light microscope set at 40 to 100X to see a spore. Even at this magnification spores look like small, brown or black lemon-shaped objects. Here is a picture of OE spores at 400X:

If you have infected butterflies, then read this info from Dr. Altizer:
http://www.monarchwatch.org/forums/view ... f=6&t=2938

If possible, take the time to participate in Project Monarch Health:
http://monarchparasites.uga.edu/monarchhealth/index.htm

Something as small as this lighted microscope will work:
http://www.amazon.com/Carson-MM-200-Mic ... microscope

If you order any thing from Amazon, go through the Monarch Watch Amazon portal, then Monarch Watch will get part of the proceeds:
http://monarchwatch.org/amazon/
Monarch Watch Amazon Portal

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZjhVOcX5SI
Live Monarch Foundation has a good video on how to check for OE

Project Monarch Health does have some good videos on learning how to raise Monarchs:
http://monarchparasites.uga.edu/video_archive.html

Last, have you tried the search upper right?

[iwritecode]

Hi,
Thanks for all the info. Yes, I did use the search and saw a few things. I did see a write-up about buying a lighted microscope but jump over that for 2 reasons - 1)I thought it's an expensive purchase and 2) didn't know what spores will look like. Both no longer an issue now that I have a little time to research. Now, we just have to decide how much time we can spare to make sure these butterflies that emerge are healthy!

Thanks so much for your help!

[Mona Miller]

If you read what Dr. Altizer said, she said unless you are having more than 50% mortality that you should release them back into the wild.

[iwritecode]

Hi,
I am attaching 2 pics of the a butterfly that just eclosed a few hours ago. We were about to release it but I noticed that the abdomen didn't look right. This is the only butterfly we have plus one that went into the pupal stage yesterday. No more cats (we think wasps got 'em, but that's for another thread).

Based on the photo, should we release it or just destroy it?

[Mona Miller]

Remember the info I posted earlier. Do not destroy any butterflies unless over 50% are testing positive.

You'd have to take a sample and then check it with a microscope. I've posted details of how to do that testing. I cannot tell from a photo whether this butterfly is infected. Sorry.

[iwritecode]

thanks, we went ahead and release it this morning.