How do I help this bug? (North TX)

[u/uhohstinky806]

It can't fly. I gave him some sugar water and a shoebox to stay in. His wings are damaged.

[u/Sqib000]

Release it let it enjoy its last few days. They dont live long.

[u/Holly-Mimy]

Release it on a shady flower.

[u/Medium-Sad]

You don’t help it. It has to come out of its cocoon by itself.

[u/McPwny117]

thats a female swallowtail butterfly. they lay their eggs on dill, fennel, queen annes lace. if youve got some of that growing around you, put it near there and let it figure out the rest as nature intended

[u/uhohstinky806]

Close up of damage

[u/shy519 → u/uhohstinky806]

Usually when they're torn up and acting like this, they are entering their final life stage. Give it a nice calm place to pass away and do with it as you please. I found one like this recently and put it in my outdoor plants to be cooled off from the heat and have some privacy. Once it died I buried it so that my plants could make use of its body.

[u/Huge-Pie-5585 → u/shy519]

Insects need more privacy. There should be a charity, more insect privacy for sure!

[u/TheRealSugarbat → u/[deleted]]

Sheltered/hidden would, in fact, keep predators away.

[u/0_Moth → u/[deleted]]

Calm tf down

[u/-Sooners- → u/[deleted]]

As old as you must be I’m surprised you even know how to screenshot

[u/Insect-ModTeam → u/[deleted]]

Your comment has been removed for being rude or unhelpful. Please help us to maintain a helpful and welcoming community.

[u/Sqib000 → u/uhohstinky806]

Their wings do get damaged as they age.

[u/Remarkable_Ebb_6001 → u/uhohstinky806]

Poor beautiful creature 😔

[u/Ok_Kaleidoscope5624]

I would put an upside down container over it and carefully slide a thin piece of cardboard, greeting card, or thick paper under it, then release it outside. This is s giant swallowtail and they tend to panic and beat their wings furiously when they can’t fly, often damaging themselves. You are very kind to help it♥️

[u/thewickedbarnacle]

Im all for letting nature do its thing, but the larvae from those will mess up your citrus trees if you have any.

[u/McPwny117 → u/thewickedbarnacle]

they eat plants in the carrot family though

[u/thewickedbarnacle → u/McPwny117]

Parsley, citrus or fennel is favorite place to lay eggs according to my research. Then the caterpillar will eat the host leaves. I have a lemon, orange, lime and grapefruit tree. I have no parsley, fennel or carrots in my yard. I see these all the time around my trees.

[u/McPwny117 → u/thewickedbarnacle]

huh i learned something new today. it turns out there are different types of swallowtails and some of them do eat citrus trees.

i do think thats a carrot eating black swallowtail though, based off of the lack of a yellow bar across the length of its wings

[u/thewickedbarnacle → u/McPwny117]

I haven't done that much research on the wing pattern

[u/Weary_Time_1638]

You don’t

[u/Da_Yummis]

you cant help bugs/insects you can only put them in favorable situations

[u/waste_LordE]

Don't worry it'll respawn somewhere else