by Vikki
(Walnut Creek, OH )
I have a monarch that fell after he emerged and I wasn't home. When I found him he was lying on his "back" on he bottom of the cage. I quickly picked him up but his wings weren't able to form correctly. Will his wings eventually straighten out and grow to normal size or is it to late after a certain period of time?
Karen says:
It sounds like your monarch might have a parasite called OE or Ophryocystis elektroscirrha. Monarchs that emerge with OE often have wings which are weak and aren't properly formed along with other problems and usually die.
Make sure and sterilize any equipment you have used for raising your monarch 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.