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Monarchs Emerge and Fall to the Ground

by Lisa
(Southwest Florida)


We received the Butterfly Garden as a gift. The monarch caterpillars all attached to the top and after emerging several promptly fell to the floor. We tried using a washcloth and holding them upside down for hours but their wings were either broken or deformed. What can we place in the container to help them if they fall or prevent this from happening? Any suggestion would help.

Thank you.

Karen says:

I sounds like it may be a parasite called OE or Ophryocystis elektroscirrha. Check out this link to see if this is your problem.

What is OE?

If it is, make sure and thoroughly clean the container (with bleach solution) if you will be using it again for Monarchs, because this spreads easily.

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Monarchs Emerge and Fall to the Ground

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More butterflies that can't fly
by: cindy

That must have been a horrible experience! What fun is that to receive such a potentially beautiful gift only to have to witness in helplessness all of the miracles struggle so. Shame on the vendor. That's such an irresponsible, cruel way to raise and sell creatures. And horrible for the recipient of the gifted butterflies too.
Please share with others where this Butterfly Garden came from...........for the sake of the Butterflies. It is a crime to ship stock that there is even a slight chance of the poor things being infected. And just inhumane. The darn OE really travels through an area fast too.

Where was it shipped from?
Thank you. And hope you have a better experience with butterflies soon.

Thank you for letting others know.

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