Once the wings are dry, you really cannot unfold them.

I euthanize by putting them in the freezer for a couple days.

Thanks, KC, that's pretty much what I expected.

Whoops--made the mistake of naming it (Princess). Guess I'm taking care of it for a couple more weeks.

Here's a picture of its new habitat; fresh-picked flowers on a sunny windowsill, with an inset of the butterfly. Princess likes to sit in the sun, but the flowers provide some shade if it gets too hot. That's a strip of terrycloth leading from vase to windowsill; sometimes it flutters off the plant and needs a path back up.

don't yet send it to the big freeze! you can feed it and enjoy it for the duration. Chompipe (spanish for Turkey) eclosed Thanksgiving Day... and he is still alive and hanging out. i feed him a honey/water mixture w/ a drop or two of soy sauce for amino acids and salts. if you are interested, check out the beautiful monarch facebook page :)

Princess turned up; our brightly-colored rug may have attracted it.

Go to FB to the Beautiful Monarch page. There are lots of people with "pets" just as yours. You can see how to care for and feed it. Here are some I had to keep in the house for a while due to cold weather. Same diff!

Is yours eating off the cut flowers? I have never noticed them eating off of cut flowers.

Nope, a pot of alyssum, cut lantana, watermelon and oranges.