It is a sad thing to find a Sick Monarch Butterfly
It's IMPORTANT TO KNOW IF THEY ARE SICK SO WE CAN REMOVE THEM FROM THE ENVIRONMENT. THE REMOVAL IS THE BEST WAY TO PREVENT THE SPORES AND OTHER ORGANISMS THAT CARRY THE DISEASES FROM INFECTING MORE CATERPILLARS.
WAYS TO REMOVE SICK CATERPILLARS AND BUTTERFLIES FROM THE ENVIRONMENT:
IMMEDIATELY CONTAIN THEM. We use a small size ziplock bag that we buy in bulk from ULINE. We do this for anything that is still alive or could hatch because we also have ways to identify sick caterpillars after they have become a chrysalis and BEFORE THE HATCH INTO A BUTTERFLY. This is important to do if possible because as soon as they come out of the chrysalis and with every wing flap and egg laid the spores are spreading! THEY ARE THERE BY THE THOUSANDS!
We choose to put them to sleep. Most anything alive goes in the ziploc and then the freezer. Others choose to flush down the toilet or smash them. We find this the best way and is providing the greatest containment of organisms.
SHOULD YOU KEEP SICK BUTTERFLIES AS PETS BY FEEDING THEM WATER AND FLOWERS FOR NECTAR?
This can be OK if you are keeping the butterfly indoors and a confined area so that after it dies you can clean and decontaminate that area. YOU CAN TRACK THE SPORES OUTDOORS ON YOUR SHOES! We know that the diseases can easily spread.
IMMEDIATELY CONTAIN THEM. We use a small size ziplock bag that we buy in bulk from ULINE. We do this for anything that is still alive or could hatch because we also have ways to identify sick caterpillars after they have become a chrysalis and BEFORE THE HATCH INTO A BUTTERFLY. This is important to do if possible because as soon as they come out of the chrysalis and with every wing flap and egg laid the spores are spreading! THEY ARE THERE BY THE THOUSANDS!
We choose to put them to sleep. Most anything alive goes in the ziploc and then the freezer. Others choose to flush down the toilet or smash them. We find this the best way and is providing the greatest containment of organisms.
SHOULD YOU KEEP SICK BUTTERFLIES AS PETS BY FEEDING THEM WATER AND FLOWERS FOR NECTAR?
This can be OK if you are keeping the butterfly indoors and a confined area so that after it dies you can clean and decontaminate that area. YOU CAN TRACK THE SPORES OUTDOORS ON YOUR SHOES! We know that the diseases can easily spread.
This is a sick caterpillar.
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this is a sick caterpillarWhat we see is a caterpillar that does not have the right coloring, and is has a abnormal puffiness. This caterpillar probably has more of a pillowy feeling to his body, than a healthy caterpillar that would probably be thinner and firmer.
ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT THE SPORES PREVENT THE PRODUCTION OF PIGMENT/COLOR SO A SICK CATERPILLAR WILL NOT HAVE CLEAR COLORS OR LINES. If you look at the stripes they are spotted with a blurry blackish grey. This is not a good sign. |
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ANYTIME YOU SEE A MONARCH BUTTERFLY WITH A DEFORMED BODY OR WING IT IS SICK!DEFORMED WINGS AND/OR BODY = SICK BUTTERFLY
PLEASE REMOVE FROM THE ENVIRONMENT! |
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A WAY TO TEST IF A NEW MONARCH IS SICK WITH OE DISEASE.GIVE THE NEW MONARCH A LIGHT SHOWER.
The OE disease not only destroys pigment and color in the butterfly, but it also weakens the outer coating THAT SEALS THE WINGS FROM MOISTURE. THIS IS WHY SICK MONARCHS CANNOT HOLD WATER IN THEIR BODIES AND DIE FROM DEHYDRATION AS WELL. If you have a facet run very slowly with cold water and a tub under to catch the water, you can hold the butterfly and move it under the water. Next check the wings to see if you find what looks like water marks where the water penetrated into the wing. THIS NEVER HAPPENS WHEN THE MONARCH IS HEALTHY! |