NikkiA
Avid Member
We raise butterflies in the summer. Every now and again we get one that comes out of it's chrysalis deformed (we raise a lot). We normally try to nurture them until they pass away, but I always feel a bit guilty, since butterflies should be free and flying.
Now that I have a chameleon, I was wondering if I can feed them butterflies that can't fly? I know that the monarchs are toxic because they eat milkweed. We also raise spicebush swallowtails (ours are fed spicebush) and black swallowtails (ours are fed parsley, dill and fennel). They are raised in our sunroom and overwinter on our porch. Are there any possible dangers or issues with toxicity in feeding either of these types of swallowtails if any emerge that doesn't allow us to release them?
Now that I have a chameleon, I was wondering if I can feed them butterflies that can't fly? I know that the monarchs are toxic because they eat milkweed. We also raise spicebush swallowtails (ours are fed spicebush) and black swallowtails (ours are fed parsley, dill and fennel). They are raised in our sunroom and overwinter on our porch. Are there any possible dangers or issues with toxicity in feeding either of these types of swallowtails if any emerge that doesn't allow us to release them?