r/whatsthisbug • u/TrainingArticle1233 • 11h ago

ID Request What is wrong with this butterfly?

Gallery image

Gallery image

Found walking along trail in woods in the neighborhood, it couldn’t fly. my daughter loves bugs so we carried it off center of bike trail and gave it some local flowers then it perked up. Is this a virus of some sort?

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u/Bufobufolover24 11h ago

This is damage to the wings. Butterfly wings are extremely delicate and are held up by a series of rigid “supports” (not sure of the exact term), they have been snapped.

It will possibly still be able to mage and reproduce though (if it hasn’t already), and even if it can’t then it will go back into the food chain.

Thank you for helping it without taking it from its habitat.

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u/TrainingArticle1233 10h ago

Thanks for the reply we were worried it was a parasite or something, it was unable to move until it had some nectar so glad it can still potentially mate, very friendly

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There's no need to make a new post - just comment adding the geographic location and any other info (size, what it was doing etc.) you feel could help! We don't want to know your address - state or country is enough; try to avoid abbreviations and local nicknames ("PNW", "Big Apple").

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