My handicapped BST

I couldn't remember if the male or female has the extra yellow, but I don't think he'll mind that I called him sweetheart all day. I don't know quite what's wrong with him but he won't fly off.

I tried releasing him several times and he just sat or fell over. He just falls over and seems to drag his body when he's walking. He doesn't flap his wings but they can open and close. I think he's become our pet for a few days or however long he lives. I'm hoping that maybe he'll become stronger overnight and we can try again.

He wouldn't feed on flowers so I had to show him how to eat too. I had to unroll his tongue with a toothpick then he quickly learned that Gatorade is good.

He's luckier than the one I had last week that had crumpled wings. That one's wings just never expanded. They were just a twisted mess and it was too sad so I had to give it a quick flush. I figure that's quicker and easier than leaving it outside for the ants or bugs to pick apart as it falls on the ground. :(

This message was edited Jul 3, 2006 12:00 AM

ahhhh poor little guy :(

You are sweet to nurse them.

How is the butterfly doing today Paige?

Kenya, I am so proud to report that he was able to fly today!! I put him in a small net "bug hut" last night so that he could either just hang or practice opening and closing his wings.

This morning he was still falling and not flying but when I checked on him this evening he was moving a lot faster and even attempting to fly. I thought he might be ready to try again so we took him outside and he readily jumped on my son's hand, since he was so used to us, then he took right off flying! Yay for him!!

He wasn't as strong as he should be but he knew what to do and he headed straight for the Brazilian Verbena. He was so hungry today! He fluttered on and off of it for a long time. I finally left him and let him do his thing. I will recognize him tho if I see him again because of the way his wings bend down when he opens them flat. We were so proud of him!

Some just get stronger that way. Here the BST's that have made it to pupation this year have done well when they emerge. But some of the cats have died.

Glad to hear of the success! Please, keep us posted if he/she continues to hang around your garden. I wonder if his/her wings were caught in something as they were drying after emergence to cause the bending down you describe when the wings are held open and flat, thus affecting his/her flying ability? [Ugh, that was a major run-on sentence. :-p ]

Hope you have a great fourth!! :-))

Maybe he did hurt himself and that's why he couldn't flap his wings. I've never had any eclose that couldn't and weren't ready to get out unless they were somehow deformed.

I really didn't want to have to feed him for days but my motherly instincts had prepared to do it. I'll have more free time now to constantly cut down my Rue and milkweed. lol

It was a beautiful evening for him to be released. There were clouds and just a little breeze and lots of other friends for him to eat with. I do enjoy sitting outside watching them all in the evenings! I even got to see a hummer tonight.

Happy 4th to you all too!

KK glad it is o.k. and able to fly off

I'm ecstatic to hear the butterfly recuperated. There's a fighter in him/her. That was very thoughful of you to offer gatorade.

It's a good feeling to help something. I've nursed several inside during cold weather or even one that the cat got ahold of. (not good) I just feel like it's my responsibility when I'm involved, especially if I've raised them indoors.

Konkrete, you are a bf-angel. Your garden is so pretty! All that color is sure to attract alot of butterflies. I'm a critter lover too. I remember getting upset at my neighbor because she put a dead squirrel in her trash bin. I insisted that he be buried, so she got him out and buried him. It's just disrespectful to throw them away like trash.
I have buried so many critters in my backyard; rats, mice, anoles, fish, raccoons, possums, squirrels, birds....I hate to plant anything back there because I can't remember where I buried them.

LOL! fly, I do believe you definitely have a heart for nature. That's just too sweet!

I will admit that I let my husband put a dead bird, mouse and rat in the trash tho. No telling what killed them tho so I didn't want to be exposed to West Nile etc. We don't have any squirrels in my neighborhood yet but if I ever am in that situation, I promise to bury it.

Thanks Konkrete, I'll get off my soapbox now :)

What a kind and patient person you must be.

Fly, I gotta admit...I decided the other day that I couldn't bury any future dead squirrels. I don't have real dirt except in my flower beds and that's imported topsoil and compost and handmade by me. The rest of the yard is pure clay/subsoil and what comes out doesn't go back in, since it's in globs. Maybe I'll never have to experience it tho. :)