Monarchs?

[CoolMantid]

Could I feed a "runt" or a monarch butterfly that has deformed wings to my carolina mantis.

 

[PhilinYuma]

Yes. Why not?

 

[CoolMantid]

I just thought it might be toxic from milkweed

 

[gripen]

Yes. It is not poisonis to inverts.

 

[CoolMantid]

Yes for what....

 

[massaman]

I thought they are one of the few species that are protected?

 

[MandellaMandy123]

If it has deformed wings and cannot survive, then yes. Otherwise, please don't. Monarchs are having a tough time

 

[PhilinYuma]

I thought they are one of the few species that are protected?

No, but the President Of Mexico has declared parts of the Oyamel Forest where they migrate to as a sanctuary, so they are protected there.

 

[CoolMantid]

I would never feed a healthy monarch.....

 

[massaman]

I have before but they are not endangered but my nephew tried to tell me they might be a state insect though in Michigan!

 

[meaganelise9]

Interesting discussion.. So insects that consume milkweed sap are not harmful to mantids? I didn't know monarchs were protected in some states. I guess that makes sense. Many of the pesticides used on fields are killing off pollenating insects. I think I'd feel bad feeding something so pretty to a mantis although I'm sure it's a healthy meal.

 

[PhilinYuma]

Interesting discussion.. So insects that consume milkweed sap are not harmful to mantids? I didn't know monarchs were protected in some states. I guess that makes sense. Many of the pesticides used on fields are killing off pollenating insects. I think I'd feel bad feeding something so pretty to a mantis although I'm sure it's a healthy meal.

Mantids are not injured by eating bugs (hemiptera) that eat milkweed, but are likely to spit them out and then not try them again. The milweed has a number of nasty substabances, including sticky latex, but its major defense is a cardenolide, which as its name implies, affects the heart (digoxin from the foxglove is another well known example). The monarch butterfly retains some of these cardenoids that were taken in when it was a caterillar, but since mantids don't have hearts (sad but true!) it doesn't affect them as it would birds, and they will definitely eat monarchs.

Surprisingly, the monarch is the state insect of six states, but that does not give it protection. It is not endangered or protected anywhere in the US. It and its habitat are protected in the pine forest that is its major migration site in Mexico.

Aha! I just got a package from Yen, so you're spared any more of this exciting stuff!

 

[CoolMantid]

I have a Deformed one that emerged.... i just cant do it..... its pretty, is there any other way to put it down

 

[PhilinYuma]

Put it in the freezer. It will drift off into its final sleep, dreaming of the Mexican forests. Not a bad way to go.

 

[CoolMantid]

Did that just now......