Unfolded wings - can anything be done?

[RBrandes]

Right now I have two who somehow managed to dry their wings not if a flat state. Is there anything that can be done? I thought of ironing them flat, carefully of course.

[RBrandes]

Well, I guess i would have had an answer by now so I will euthanize.

[Mona Miller]

I don't check the forum every day. Best thing to do is email me privately, if you need an immediate answer.

There is nothing that can be done with severely wrinkled wings that I know of. Once the wings have dried, they stay that way. But, I always take them out later to see if they can fly. You'd be amazed at some of these butterflies.

Also, some people decide to keep them and feed them until they pass away. Or, sometimes I put them out in the flower garden and allow them to have some brief hours of freedom.

Prevention is worth an ounce of cure. Make sure they have something to climb on if they fall down. I use net containers so that if they fall, they can climb up any side.

[RBrandes]

Mona,
Thanks for the reply. We were out all day and on returning home found one right side up on tent rope. We could not find the chrysilis where it came from.
The other had a mishap in a emergence chamber where it somehow managed to get under the paper towel.
We keep a close eye on our babies and check often when one is about to come out.
Yesterday five healthy butterflys were released.
We have stopped counting chrysilis, at one point we had over sixty in the yard.
We have lost over a dozen to disease and parasites. Some just don't make it due to the cold snaps.
I am torn between letting nature have its way or confining them from egg to emergence.
Here in Panama City Beach the tropicals are the plant to grow. I have well over 100 started and have been scouting out vacant lots for plantings.


Seedlings for 2013.


The garden at the end of July last year.

Regards, Ray

[Mona Miller]

Looks like you have a good milkweed garden growing.

Yes it is hard to decide whether to take them it. I take them in because we have way too many wasp and the wasp eat them.