As the monarch butterfly stretches it’s wings, it knows something is wrong. As it flaps it’s wings, nothing happens. NOTHING. After many tries, it flies! Then... topples to the ground.
This is one of many cases. Some have bits out of their wings. Some have broken feelers. Some have un-dried wings. However, the result is the same. They can’t fly, and therefore can’t attract a mate.
If you SEE a crippled beauty, what should you do? Place it on a flowering plant and leave it there. This is a food source for your crippled beauty. However, DON’T TOUCH THE WINGS!!! This cripples them further, making it worse. How? There are special hairs called “scales” on the wings that help attract mates, provide camouflage and protect the wings, which have veins that help them breathe. When you touch these, they fall away.
If the butterfly is so deformed you feel you MUST keep it, feed it by placing flowers (or, if not avaliable, sugar water) into a makeshift enclosure. However, it is best returned to the wild
These photos are of
the Monarch
Butterflies at KIS.
Taken by:
Riley Henderson,
Room 16.
Crippled Beauty
By Violet Grant