First Aid for Butterflies

Call me a wimp, but it breaks my heart to see a butterfly, lethargic and struggling, on its last wings, so to speak. It makes me feel beyond helpless. So I was surprised to learn recently that there are things one can actually do to help out a butterfly in distress. Who knew? I have to say, this made me very happy, if not a little guilty about the butterflies I’ve unwittingly left in the lurch in the past.

If you find a butterfly with a torn wing, you can tape it! I kid you not. You can try to carefully use a small bit of lightweight transparent tape to mend the wing. This may allow the butterfly to fly again and to live long enough to reproduce–it may even let it live out its normal lifespan.

Another good trick, according to my butterfly bible, The Family Butterfly Book, written by Rick Mikula (whom I like to call the Butterfly Whisperer): You can feed a weak or injured butterfly a diluted sugar water; sometimes just plain water can be enough.

Follow these steps:

1. First of all, learn how to handle a butterfly. (Rubbing the powder off the wings will not prevent it from flying.) Be sure that your hands are dry. With your thumb and index finger, grasp the butterfly by the wings just above the body and as close to the butterfly’s shoulders as possible. Very light pressure is needed. If the butterfly seems agitated, turn it upside down. This will immediately calm it down.

2. Place the patient’s feet on a moistened pad that has been saturated with feeding solution (mix one teaspoon of sugar in one cup of filtered water).

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Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
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Donna H.

4:37AM PDT on May 17, 2012

Thanks for the info.

send a green star

TERRY R.

1:48PM PST on Jan 27, 2012

SPECIAL

jessica w.

8:25AM PDT on Oct 7, 2011

Chris R.

9:46AM PDT on Oct 5, 2011

Great info, thanks Melissa!~

Past Member .

9:57AM PDT on Aug 24, 2011

Wow, cool!

jennifer c.

4:41AM PDT on Aug 14, 2011

very interesting article.

Sulette M.

12:35PM PDT on Jul 24, 2011

Great info. Thanx! Im starting my butterfly garden this spring (we have winter now) and im so looking forward to see the beautiful butterflies of Africa in my garden!

Michele W.

6:05AM PDT on Jul 17, 2011

Thank you

dve d.

12:27AM PDT on Jun 16, 2011

thank for sharing this information x