I have a newly eclosed monarch who has a green bubble on one wing. It hasn't flown yet and I'm not sure the bubble won't throw it off during flight. Should I operate, lance or leave alone? Obviously, quick replies appreciated. I'll send a closer view with next post.
I'm no expert, but this gal flies pretty well, missing most of her left wing. So I'd think that perhaps a bubble would not hurt it. But I can't really see where the bubble is.
Has this one been flapping its wings in the cage yet? That might be an indication.
He has been flapping and crawling, but no flying yet. I did see a video on how to fix butterfly wings like the one you have a picture of. Simple job of trimming other wing to match. Maybe because it's the lower wing it isn't as crucial for flying. Here's a closer view of mine.
Is it just a krinkle?
I'd say leave it alone. Sometimes the wing veins get damaged during eclosion. It should dry off or drop off. Looks like the wing may also be a bit deformed. That shouldn't stop it from getting around. However, if you notice it has trouble flying you might trim the wing to remove the curled up/wrinkled end - since that will hinder the smooth movement of air when it's flying.
I had a GST with a small bubble of liquid on it's wing. It dried out and the butterfly flew off without any problems.
~ Cat
I knew an expert would be along.
Thanks Cat, I was hoping you were lurking out there. I did set him outside the enclosure when he was about 8 hours old but his flying was pathetic. I ended up picking him back up off the grass where he was crawling and returned him to the enclosure for the night. I'll give him another try tomorrow and see if he's better. I don't think it would be difficult to trim the wing as the bubble is on the outside edge. It's almost like it didn't get "cooked" enough, still the same green coloring as the pupa.
If you have to trim - just trim as minimal as possible - that should be the last resort. But then if you must - just to get rid of the curled edge - that's probably why it can't fly right - that curled edge gets caught up with the air and knocks it off balance. It should be able to compensate during flight with a trimmed wing edge - Good luck :o)
~ Cat
I brought him out of the enclosure this morning, set him on a porch rail in the sun and he was gone in a moment. He flew right over the neighbor's 2 story house and out of sight.... so I guess he's ok!
Glad to read about it! Yaaayyyyyy!!!!
~ Cat
One of my GST's was born with a wrinkled wing. Looks like it flew a little crooked, good to know it might not be a death sentence.
I made a horrible mistake today with one of my GST's that just pupated. I removed it from the cage with a razor blade like I always do and then glued it to a twig. It had just fully pupated yesterday. While I had my hand in the cage I bumped the chrysalis and tore it open a little bit, a little liquid came out and I am sure it probably won't make it. Anybody else do that and had it live?
From now on I am going to wait till the chrysalis hardens for a couple of days before I even touch them. I really felt bad for the little thing.
Peg
Oh Peg, I'm sorry for your loss. Know that you're not the only one though. I moved a fresh chrysalis once and accidentally dropped it. Needless to say that was the end but I felt so guilty. I said my amends and tried to focus on the fact that when we raise them, far more make it than would have w/o us.
Warm fuzzies,
Maggie
Peg... did the same thing. I still have the chrysalis hanging up, but it did leak a bit and it doesn't have that plump look like it's supposed to.
Rochelle
margaran, I can only look at it like you did and say to myself a whole bunch of others lived because I am raising them. I won't make that mistake again for sure.
Thanks for the tea and sympathy.
Sorry sweetness. I'm glad for all I learned from so many here who taught me to raise butterflies w/ minimal incident. We all help each other and learn from our mistakes and those of others. in the end, it all boils down to intent. If your intent was good but you made an error, this is better than a poor intent successfully carried out.
Namaste,
Maggie
Sorry it happened Datura, but we all learn when one makes a mistake and shares it. Not sure what material you have as a cage, but if it is the plastic, you can use your fingernail to scrape and grab an edge of the silk and then carefully peel it off. I have been missing you posting lately, good to see you back on DG. The date for the fall RU in Arlington is set for Oct 4th, hope to see you there.
I have started using small stems of the plants to mount the chrysalis. I put a tiny bit of glue on the 1 inch twig and then rolling up the silk at an angle. Then I put a line of glue on my mounting board fabric and holding it upside down place the stick into the glue. It is working much better than trying to glue the silk only. Much safer for the pupa.
Dear Datura,
Like Sheila, I don't glue the silk to anything, I once got glue on a chrysalis and was worried about it being able to eclose properly until it did. Here's the way I do it when my butterfly box gets crowded. Here's a link I found w/ pics, go to the bottom.
http://rjknits.blogspot.com/2009/08/lets-talk-about-monarch-caterpillars.html
After the chrysalis has hardened, I loosen the silk, twirl it into a thread, and wrap & tie quilting thread around it.
The easiest way I've found to loosen the silk is to take a large straight pin and separate the silk from the screen by inserting the pin between the silk pad and the screen about half way between the cremaster and the edge of the pad.
I loosen it all the way around, keeping the point pointed away from the chrysalis.
At this point, w/ my hand under the chrysalis, I separate it completely and let it fall into my hand.
After twisting the silk into a little thread, I wrap & knot silk quilting thread around it. This method keeps me from having to hold the chrysalis w/ my fingers.
I then tie it onto my "Butterfly branch", a large branch I found w/ many small branches. I select the smaller branch to tie them to based on leaving room for their wings to dry and room for them to climb. When there are many chrysalids, it looks quite pretty- like an egg tree.
Just my .02$,
Maggie
This message was edited Aug 29, 2009 12:05 PM
I knew you guys would come through for me...Sheila, I haven't been on DG in a while, I have been real busy with other projects. I am still raising the cats and learning about it constantly, thanks to your tour I was inspired to try it.
I just posted a thread maybe you all can look at. Its about deformed wings on my GST's.
Sheila, I will D mail you about the Round Up.
Thanks all, glad I am on again, I learn a lot on DG and love the people, everyone is so nice and helpful.
Thank you all!
As well all know - most times it's nothing we do but rather a quirk of nature. Insects are pretty resilient but you must remember there is a higher power making decisions that we can't change. If it's meant to be, it will be.
If it is something we have done to upset the balance then it will always be a learning experience...most times good...sometimes not...but either way...an experience we can all share and learn from.
As others have said...just think of all the wonderful butterfly lives you've assisted into this wonderous world and all the others yet to come!!! :o)
~ Cat
I wish too those that sell the tachnid fly to farmers would tell them the truth. They aren't going to stay around just their land, but will go out and kill our butterfly larva. To me that is the imbalance I am fighting against.
Sheila,
I doubt that the farmers care. They probably think they're doing folks a favor. same w/ mosquito spraying.
Maggie
I think Margan is right, they are in business to make money and will use whatever is necessary and hopefully legal to ensure the crops. In Florida the GST is considered a pest because they host on the citrus, they are sprayed constantly to get rid of them.
Something I noticed about my GST's laying eggs, she will always try to lay on the Satsuma Orange which will grow here. It is still small and has very little leaves yet so I throw mosquito netting over it to stop her from laying. She must instinctively know it is probably the best. The least of the citrus she will lay on is the Persian Lime, and mostly lays on the citrus rootstock which does not bloom but has a lot of foliage. She lays very little on the Key Lime. I really need to trade for some hops for them.
Datura,
If you get yourself a wild lime, http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/62293/ you will have no issues w/ them laying on any of your other citrus- in my experience. I think because it is a species, they gravitate toward that rather than the cultivars. It grows in TX and in fact, under comments, the first poster is from Longview TX and had great success w/ it. Edith-buyabutterfly has it but it looks like that plant has to be quarantined for import to TX.
Maggie
I am not sure if it is that or not but I will inspect a wild plant next time I see before I pull it up.
Datura.... Mine is just the opposite. I had them lay eggs on my kiwi lime, but not on the orange. But their favorite here is my Rue. I just collected 18 first and second instars off of my one plant. I am going to try to switch the smaller bunch to the orange if I can. I have moved the first instar BSTs I get on it over to parsley with no problem.
I had collected a few seeds from my Rue this year so I will try to have some seedlings next spring and share them.
I have a hard time keeping rue alive, it seems not to like the heat at all. Sheila, do you find that? I bought two and they lasted about two months. I had mine in full sun FYI.
Peg
Peg,
I'm glad you asked this question as I too have had difficulties. Mine will grow, but not much. Looking forward to Sheila's answer.
Maggie
I hear you on the rue. I have tried several in different spots and the one that trived and over wintered was in morning sun and dappled after 1pm. There were several that didn't make it in the same area though. I think when I sow seeds it will be in a pot that I can move around.
The BST like it better than parsley to lay eggs on. But I switch the little cats over to parsley. The GST will get the Rue mostly. However, I did put a orange leaf in the cage and someone ate on it.
