BST wings crumpled

14 years ago

I knew my BST was going to eclose today and I knew he'd have to stay inside because it's raining out today. But this morning...of all mornings...I awoke with a migraine. I took my migraine meds and waited it out.

About an hour later, headache still going strong, I wandered around the house and saw the BST had eclosed, but he wasn't on the stick or any of the mesh netting. I guess he had fallen right away, he was at the bottom of the tank flat on his back and stuck to the glass bottom.

I coaxed him up and he is now hanging from the metal mesh top of the tank. But he's screwed, wings are a total mess.

I have a butterfly garden. I can take him out during the day and monitor him, then bring him back inside and "juice-sponge" feed him. I can't bring it upon myself to deep freeze the little guy. It's not his fault. I wasn't there for him :( Since he was born in captivity, so to speak, he's not aware of what he is missing -- except that he's not going to get snatched by a bird right away.

Has anyone ever kept their deformed butterflies? (ones that are not diseased of course)

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Comments (7)

nardaf
14 years ago
Oh...so sorry to hear that!

You have 2 choices: either euthanize, or feed him. I don;t euthanize in the freezer---I put them on a hard surface, cover them with a leaf, and quickly stomp on them several times, to make sure they die very quicly. I HATE, HATE to do this!!

Last year I sponge-fed a BST, and it lived for 3 1/2 weeks. One morning it was dead when I wanted to feed it "breakfast". She still sits in my living room with spread wings.

I am just feeding a monarch which I saved alive from the surf of Lake Michigan.

Once you make the commitment to feed, you'll have to do it several times a day.
tackysue
14 years ago
I have had two of my BSTs do this. It's heartbreaking. I had to freeze one of them, the other died before I even found him. Hate, hate, hate it!
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lindacatherine
Original Author
14 years ago
I'm going to keep her. She won't live her entire life in the tank. I have a butterfly garden and I will bring her outside from time to time and monitor her very closely. I can't bear to freeze her or...gulp...stomp on her (wow, that just seems way harsh!)
I will give her the best life I can. I'm sorry she won't be able to fulfill her destiny of making more little BSTs, but she's no trouble and even if she was, she's worth it.
lindacatherine
Original Author
14 years ago
She's still with me one week later. I take her out to my butterfly garden several times a day and let her chow down on the butterfly bush and bask in the sun.

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nardaf
14 years ago
Please supplement her feedings by hand with a sugar or nectar solution if you can (soaked in a paper towel piece). You can find recipes on the net or maybe someone can help in this forum?

Mine lived for 3 1/2 weeks being handfed. She also laid about 10 eggs in her cage during her life. They didn't hatch, of course. Yours probably is doing the same.

She deserves a life!! I cried when mine died.
swallowtail_grower
14 years ago
Hi, Could someone tell me how they sponge-feed I`ve never heard of that but would like to learn, Thank You Patty
lindacatherine
Original Author
14 years ago
Oh she was sponge fed inside also, but I also took her outside "for walks" as my husband would say. She lived about 1 1/2 weeks. I have a butterfly stepping stone in my butterfly garden. When she died I placed her at the base of the stone :(

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BST wings crumpled

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BST wings crumpled

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