How can I help to fix folded wings?

by Melissa Hawley
(Port St. Lucie, FL)

We have 2 monarchs in our yard that hatched with folded wings. The wings are dry but they are unable to fly because they are folded. Is this something that can rectify itself? Will they ever be able to fly? They hatched yesterday afternoon and right now they are in our patio in a safe box with pentas, verbena & milkweed to feed on. What can I do?

Karen says:
It sounds like your Monarchs probably have a parasite problem called OE or Ophryocystis elektroscirrha. This parasite is spread from spores on the milkweed to pupa, then butterfly and egg. Monarchs that emerge with OE often have wings which are weak and aren't properly formed along with other problems and usually die.

You can keep them with the flowers so they have food. Make sure if you bring them inside and use any containers to hold them that you sterilize with a 20% bleach solution, otherwise the spores could spread and infect any future monarchs that you raise.

Here is a link which tells about OE:

Ophryocystis elektroscirrha.

Also, check out the comment at the bottom of this page to see information from one of my readers.