Believe it or not, butterfly wings can be fixed. This task is difficult, but if you are careful, the butterfly will be able to fly again. However, before freeing the butterfly, you must provide energy intake for it.
Step
Method 1 of 2: Fixing the Wings
Step 1. Grab the butterfly
Before touching the butterfly, make sure your hands are clean and dry. Grasp the butterfly's wings while they are closed above the body. You don't need to hold it too tightly, just hold it down so the wings don't struggle.
- Contrary to popular belief, you won't hurt a butterfly just by touching its wings. Butterflies can lose their scales and can still fly as usual. The real danger comes from the thin and fragile structure of the butterfly's wings.
- Butterflies can calm down if held upside down.
Step 2. Put the butterflies in the refrigerator
While this may seem cruel, this step can calm the butterfly so you can take care of it. You're not going to kill the butterfly, you're just sedating it a little.
- Put it in a smooth container. Ideally use a glass container. You will need to partially cover the container if the butterfly can still flap its wings. However, make sure there is still airflow in the container.
- Do not leave the butterfly for more than 10 minutes because it can eventually kill the butterfly.
Step 3. Prepare the equipment
You will need a towel, as well as a wire hanger. You'll also need duct tape or contact adhesive (available at a repair shop), scissors, and maybe tweezers. If you can, also prepare toothpicks, cotton swabs, baby powder, and light thick cardboard (preferably with a different color on each side). You'll also need extra butterfly wings if she's lost a lot of her wings. You can find replacement wings where many butterflies congregate, or use wings from dead butterflies.
- Contact adhesive is a type of paint that is applied to both surfaces of the material. You need to wait for it to dry before gluing.
- Bend the wire hanger hooks. Make it into a circle that is on the main body of the butterfly (not the wings).
Step 4. Cut the wings so they are symmetrical
One small improvement that can be made to the butterfly wings is to trim them so they are symmetrical. The wings must be symmetrical for the butterfly to fly, so this technique can be used if the wings are only slightly damaged. Grasp the butterfly's wings just above its body when closed. Cut the undamaged wing so that it matches the damaged wing. Only use this method if the damaged wing is less than.
- Butterflies will not be in pain when their wings are cut. It's like getting a haircut.
- This option is also great if you don't want to fix the butterfly wings with glue or a splint. In other words, getting rid of the damaged wing will do more benefit to the butterfly than leaving it on the wing. Butterflies may not be able to fly, but they can still lay eggs.
Step 5. Butterfly bridle for more damage
Spread the towel on the table. Lay the butterfly on the table with its legs facing down. Place the hanger circle over the butterfly. This circle should surround the butterfly's body, but slightly press the wings. You even put a light weight on the other end to keep it from moving.
- Dim the lighting in the room as this will help calm the butterflies.
- You can also use tongs to hold the butterfly in place so it doesn't move. However, if so you are forced to use only one hand to work.
- Open the wings by grasping one end, then gently tug.
Step 6. Prepare the splint for the bent wing
Cut a bit of thick cardboard. It should be just a few millimeters wide, and should be long enough to cross the broken part of the wing (when it's aligned). In other words, you only need a small piece of cardboard.
- Use a toothpick to apply glue to one side of the cardboard. Also, apply a small line of contact adhesive along the bent wing. Let the glue dry. It should be noted that contact adhesive is not an ordinary glue, but a special type of adhesive that adheres itself when dry.
- Align the wings perfectly. Press the cardboard (adhesive side down) across the crack. Use tongs to make it easier. After a while, release the butterfly. Gently lift the butterfly wings off the towel if they are stuck with glue. Also, sprinkle some baby powder on the glue area so it doesn't stick to the other wings at this final stage of the repair. You can use a cotton swab to help spread the powder.
- Another option for torn wings is to use duct tape or scotch tape. Once the butterfly is restrained, use tape along the bend or tear. However, this method will not provide as much structure as a small splint.
Step 7. Replace the badly damaged butterfly wings
If a wing is missing vital parts or is badly damaged, you can replace the missing piece or attach a new wing. Start by cutting off the badly damaged wing, and leaving some at the base to pair with the new wing. Make sure the butterfly is lying flat on the towel during this step.
- Align the wings. Whether you're installing a new wing or using a piece of the wing that fell off, make sure to align it as close to the old veins as possible. If you are installing a new wing, try to choose one that is as close as possible to the other wing. Cut so that only a little overlap.
- Apply glue. Use a toothpick to apply contact adhesive to both edges of the wings, the parts that will overlap slightly and stick together. Remove excess adhesive and allow to dry. While it dries, make sure the butterfly doesn't move so the wings don't stick together.
- When the glue is dry, press the edges of the wings together. You can add small strips of cardboard with the same gluing technique to help bridge the gap. When gluing is complete, sprinkle some baby powder over the glue area so it doesn't stick to the other wings.
- Check for errors before releasing the butterfly. For example, make sure the other wing doesn't stick to the glue. Also, make sure all the parts can move.
Method 2 of 2: Feeding the Butterfly
Step 1. Know the type of butterfly being cared for
Different butterflies have their own needs. Some butterflies do not eat at all when they are adults. This butterfly only eats when it is still a caterpillar. However, most butterflies still eat, usually in the form of nectar that can be replaced with sugar water.
- Try reading butterfly books or online databases to find the type of butterfly to care for. After that, know the food of this type of butterfly.
- In addition, if you are caged with a particular butterfly, learn about the types of flowers it usually visits. That way, you can give flowers instead of sugar water.
- For example, Monarch butterflies love to visit milkweed flowers.
Step 2. Provide food sources
Because the butterfly's wings are broken, it can't forage properly. So, the condition can be weak after you are done. Providing food will help increase the energy the butterfly needs to move.
- One good solution is to find flowers that butterflies usually eat. Look for wildflower locations in your area.
- Place it near your butterfly, then place the butterfly on top of the flower so it can drink the nectar.
Step 3. Make the "nectar"
You can make a nectar substitute for butterflies using homemade ingredients. This solution is enough to increase the butterfly's energy so that it can find its own food.
- Mix half a cup of room temperature water with a tablespoon of sugar in a small glass. Stir until sugar is dissolved. You can heat the water if the sugar is hard to dissolve. Just make sure the water is cold when you give it to the butterfly.
- Add a tissue wick. Roll a tissue measuring 12.5 cm x 17.5 cm. Dip one end in the water, and thread the other end over the rim of the cup. This wick will bring the solution to the rim of the cup so that the butterflies can drink easily.
- Place the butterfly on the wick on the rim of the cup so he can drink.
- Some butterflies, especially males, can eat fresh fruit such as peaches, plums, cherries, or oranges. Open the fruit so the butterfly can eat the flesh.
Step 4. Release the butterfly
Extend your hand so that the butterfly crawls onto your finger. If it doesn't want to crawl, take it when its wings are closed over its body. You can release the butterfly once it is strong enough thanks to being fed sugar water and nectar. You don't have to wait for it to "get better".
- Let the butterfly rest on your finger for a few minutes. Take it out.
- Let the butterfly on the finger until it flies. The butterfly will absorb the warm body temperature before continuing, which is important if you are cooling the butterfly. The outside temperature must be at least 13 degrees Celsius for the butterflies to survive.
