Momma's Monarchs

            Today I let Lucy outside for the first time to stretch her wings and get some well needed enrichment.  She is still a weak flyer, but she can glide in circles very well.  She just cannot fly upwards.  The most fascinating thing happened while we were out there, however.  If I held my hands out to Lucy, she would land in them.  That means there is something significant going on.  She has the intelligence to recognize her momma, whether its because I am a food source or because she knows I am not a threat.                                                                                  I cleaned her cage today as it was starting to smell strongly like butterfly.  I would assume from her waste.  She gets some fresh cut flowers today as her food source and I plan on giving her some orange slices (though I'm not looking forward to my room smelling of slowly rotting oranges which are sure to summon fruit flies).  I think I'll save the oranges for tomorrow.           I loo

      Day 2 has been nuts.  Last night I decided to name my sick butterfly Lucy.  She still has trouble eating, but she's getting better at it.  I have her perched on my window screen for fresh air.  She really seems to like it.        I have been out the past 3 hours getting a Covid Test.  Currently I'm confined to my room, and the results will be back to me in 2-3 days. But for now Lucy and I are sick buddies.  She will be my constant companion and I hope we both make it. For the rest of today, I will be trying to get the rest of my homework done as it is due today.  I'm just happy I don't have to wake up early for work until I get a neg test result.  Thats fine because I was on for two weeks straight.  I'm getting some well needed rest.  She's hungry again and, I'm gonna feed her. See you tomorrow!

 Day 1.      I have been dabbling in raising monarchs since the age of 5, maybe raising one or two each summer.  This year I have decided to get serious about it. I have successfully raised about 20 adult butterflies this summer. Not bad.  I have learned a lot and still have so many questions about these beautiful insects!  I'm super thankful to r/MonarchButterfly  on Reddit as they are always there to answer questions, offer support and share progress.       One of my most recent Butterflies to emerge from her chrysalis is mildly deformed and most likely has OE ( Ophryocystis elektroscirrha), which spreads via spores.  I have no doubt she  wasn't  the only one to contract the  disease, but she is severely effected by it and fell twice after emerging.  She doesn't fly and is struggling to eat from what I can tell.  I plan to keep her alive as best as I can for now as this is a great opportunity to closely study monarchs.       I am starting this blog to keep up with the thi