In from the cold.
Yesterday morning, I found this female Monarch butterfly lying still on the driveway. I thought she had died, perished from the cold of a rare overnight freeze down Houston way. However, when I looked more closely I could see a slight movement.
Gathering her gently between the palms of my hands, the butterfly was initially placed inside a small plastic container with tissue paper and a small bowl of sugar water. This is where the above 'record' photo was taken. Placed in a sunny spot the container soon warmed sufficiently for her to start moving and indeed feeding from the artificial nectar!
Once she had sustenance, the butterfly was transferred to a much larger box and although there was more sugar water inside, it was decided to try and get her to lie dormant for the next 24 - 30 hours so that no wing damage would occur. With a significant rise forecast in the outdoor temperature, the plan was to then release her.
That is indeed what happened. In a cool but nowhere near freezing temperature, she 'roosted' inside the box, never moving.
This afternoon the Monarch was taken out to a sunny patch in the garden and released, see below. From my hand she first flew to land on a wall and after warming a little, flew higher to some leaves of a tree in full sun, eventually flying up, up and away to take her chances. Good luck and bon voyage!!!!
In from the cold.
Yesterday morning, I found this female Monarch butterfly lying still on the driveway. I thought she had died, perished from the cold of a rare overnight freeze down Houston way. However, when I looked more closely I could see a slight movement.
Gathering her gently between the palms of my hands, the butterfly was initially placed inside a small plastic container with tissue paper and a small bowl of sugar water. This is where the above 'record' photo was taken. Placed in a sunny spot the container soon warmed sufficiently for her to start moving and indeed feeding from the artificial nectar!
Once she had sustenance, the butterfly was transferred to a much larger box and although there was more sugar water inside, it was decided to try and get her to lie dormant for the next 24 - 30 hours so that no wing damage would occur. With a significant rise forecast in the outdoor temperature, the plan was to then release her.
That is indeed what happened. In a cool but nowhere near freezing temperature, she 'roosted' inside the box, never moving.
This afternoon the Monarch was taken out to a sunny patch in the garden and released, see below. From my hand she first flew to land on a wall and after warming a little, flew higher to some leaves of a tree in full sun, eventually flying up, up and away to take her chances. Good luck and bon voyage!!!!