Butterfly Wing Transplant!

We gave this butterfly a new wing! Can we help it fly? It had a broken wing and was unable to fly, so we fixed it by delicately gluing a new replacement to the stump. This video tells the story of connecting the new wing transplant and helping the butterfly learn to fly
Watch to find out if we were successful in giving this butterfly a second chance at flight, and life.
A new WING, a new HOPE for this butterfly!
00:00 - Broken wing, intro
00:27 - First drink from a flower
00:52 - Trying and failing to fly
1:04 - Immobilising butterfly for surgery
1:56 - Gluing donor wing
2:45 - Securing new wing
3:14 - Removing coverings after glue dried
3:30 - First released in flight house
3:55 - Clambering on flowers
4:20 - Feeding honey solution
4:50 - 2nd try at flying, progress!
5:23 - Safe inside overnight
5:35 - Butterfly friend encouraging it
5:45 - First Flight!!!!!!! Yay!
6:05 - fluttering and drinking from flowers
6:49 - He landed on me! Butterfly saying thank you!
7:25 - End, thank you and please subscribe!
This video will also help if you would like to know how to fix a broken butterfly wing, perform wing transplant surgery/prosthetics or rescue and care for an injured butterfly.
The butterfly is a Citrus Swallowtail male (Papilio demodocus) and the donor is a Green-Banded Swallowtail male (Papilio nireus)
#butterflies #butterflysurgery #wingtransplant #naturelover #hope #conservation
Instagram: / butterflying_with_james
Thanks to Marc for helping shoot the footage while I was fixing the wing!
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Thank you for watching!!
Please Subscribe :)
Thank you so much!

[@GoldenShrike]

Thank you for saving him ❤️ they deserve help to live out their lives as other animals do

[@Butterflying_with_James]

Thank you! It was very rewarding to see him fly again afterwards!

[@lenlen20031]

I just saw a post on ig on how a woman did a wing transplant on a butterfly and I was so curious on how she did it. I’m not sure if she did it specifically like this but I appreciate what you’re doing. It’s so sweet, and now the butterfly can live without the burden of having a broken wing not being able fly😭🫶🏾

[@Butterflying_with_James]

Thank you!

[@VRchitecture]

Such a brilliant idea to transplant another butterfly’s wing! Not to mention how delicately you immobilized poor fella during the procedure. Thank you for this heartwarming story :)

[@Butterflying_with_James]

Thank you for your kind comment! I am so glad you enjoyed the video and that the story brightened up your day! It certainly made me overjoyed when he flew too :)

[@kellyw7238]

type of glue was used to attach the doner wing to the damaged wing?? I have some monarchs & one has a damaged wing & I want to gix it the same as in this video. dose anyone know what glue I should use? &thank you for this video too, its swonderful! 💗🦋💗🦋💗🦋

[@suzannegarnett3978]

I hope to live to see the day you become world renowned. Follow your passion.

[@Butterflying_with_James]

Thank you!!

[@buggirl3783]

I’m sobbing this is so beautiful

[@Butterflying_with_James]

Thank you:)

[@mamietoupie3681]

Merci d avoir sauvé ce papillon ❤

[@Butterflying_with_James]

:)

[@birchtree2274]

"Bug people" doing good things always warms my heart. I save ladybeetles, not butterflies, and observe ants, but I appreciate all of the creepy crawlies, and pretty flyers, as well.

[@Butterflying_with_James]

Great ladybeetles are important too!

[@Martin-Wally]

Amazing video. Never thought it could be done. 👍👏✝️

[@Butterflying_with_James]

Thank you!

[@margaretwakefield5807]

Thanks Marc for all the encouragement.

[@Butterflying_with_James]

:)

[@lourenserasmus5033]

Well done man, your passion for these butterflies is truly awesome. I must admit I'm pretty impressed.

[@Butterflying_with_James]

Thank you so much!

[@user-wd4jc7bv9x]

@@Butterflying_with_James йога

[@user-wd4jc7bv9x]

@@Butterflying_with_James йога

[@markescueta]

GoldenShrike is soooo right thanks. I see you were working with a lime butterfly and i have a dead one here to what i think is preserved. Thank you for giving it another chance to live

[@Butterflying_with_James]

Yes it is a Citrus Swallowtail (Papilio demodocus), which is very similar to the Lime butterfly (Papilio demoleus) :) I am glad you enjoyed!

[@liamrjsteele1133]

Wow James! Welldone! You legend!

[@Butterflying_with_James]

Thank you Liam I'm glad you enjoyed :)

[@margaretwakefield5807]

Keep up the hard work.

[@Butterflying_with_James]

Thank you!

[@irmahodgson4764]

So special to help the butterfly like that James ⭐️

[@Butterflying_with_James]

Thank you!

[@marionbreytenbach5822]

Amazing James. Well done

[@Butterflying_with_James]

Thank you!

[@rezabrainiac2619]

you are the genius ❤

[@Butterflying_with_James]

:)

[@aarfeenanees9147]

I thoroughly enjoyed watching this video mate. Props to you for helping that butterfly!

[@Butterflying_with_James]

I am really glad thank you!

[@purpledreamer9654]

I was overwhelmed watching this video at how you saved this beautiful butterfly life by your good intentions Thank you so much for sharing this video with us all 👃🌟💜🌟👃

[@Butterflying_with_James]

I am so glad you enjoyed it!

[@kathleenking1161]

Truly awesome! Thank you!

[@Butterflying_with_James]

I'm so glad you enjoyed it:)

[@mspthesword2712]

Wow ,this is so beautiful, thank you for restoring hope for that beautiful butterfly...

[@Butterflying_with_James]

Thank you! It was such a joyful experience seeing it fly again!

[@BirdBathBonanza]

You are inspiring ! Beautiful 😻

[@Butterflying_with_James]

Thank you!

[@PattyandWillie]

Hi James! I found your channel while randomly scrolling through wildlife videos. Of course I subscribed to you! And it's amazing how you took the time to help this pre precious butterfly 🦋. So glad the procedure worked. We have many butterflies 🦋🦋🦋in my home state of Florida USA 🇺🇸, but I don't think I have ever seen one like this. What a beautiful creature! Thank you so much for sharing...and caring! See you soon! ❤️🦋🦋🦋❤️

[@Butterflying_with_James]

Thank you so much for your comment!-and the sub:) The time and effort taken helping him was all worth it seeing him fly again! Yes the citrus swallowatail is stunning! It is mainly restricted to the Afrotropical region, but I am sure you have some other lovely butterflies in Florida too!

[@PattyandWillie]

@@Butterflying_with_James Hello James! Believe it or not, your reply literally just popped up on my phone and I see it's from 13 days ago. You tube is a bit behind sometimes! 🤣Yes, we do have beautiful 🦋 butterflies in Florida. I suppose every place does....such delicate and unique creatures. Have a great day! Thank you again for helping the butterfly 🦋! Willie says hello! 💗🐈‍⬛🐾🐾

[@Butterflying_with_James]

Thank you and you too:)

[@gaven6543]

That's awesome!!!

[@Butterflying_with_James]

Thank you!

[@akatsukidarwin5557]

You are an angel dude!

[@Butterflying_with_James]

Thank you!

[@gertrudemunonyara8559]

Dr J. Wakefield Specialist Surgeon! I admire your passion, well done 👍😉

[@Butterflying_with_James]

Haha thank you! Actually anyone could do this procedure if you just follow the steps and it would be awesome if more people tried it :)

[@SICresinwrks]

This id wild, never knew that would work

[@Butterflying_with_James]

:)

[@A1A7vlogs]

man awesome job

[@Butterflying_with_James]

Thank you!!

[@newdreams4507]

Beautiful 👍

[@Butterflying_with_James]

Thank you! It is an amazing butterfly!

[@raziwan3]

Nice👍

[@Butterflying_with_James]

Thank you!

[@sandyperera8569]

Oh you are so wonderful

[@Butterflying_with_James]

Thank you I'm glad you enjoyed the video

[@Pomogator.machaon]

Молодцы!!! Вы настоящий герой для бабочек:))) 😍🦋

[@Butterflying_with_James]

Спасибо! (Google translate, thank you:))

[@katharinamuller240]

This is great! What kind of glue do you use? I am thinking of doing something like this just a lot smaller to cover a bee's butt after it lost its spike.

[@Da_husky_theemojicatabuser]

The butterfly rlly said: HALP ME

[@Butterflying_with_James]

:)

[@ashishkundu8655]

You are so good 😊😊😊 I like you

[@Butterflying_with_James]

Thank you so much 😀

[@taum2616]

inspiring

[@Butterflying_with_James]

Thank you!

[@sutor9529]

A successful procedure!

[@Butterflying_with_James]

Yes definitely! And very rewarding to see the butterfly having another chance to fly :)

[@InscentiveAdvice]

This should have a billion views man, amazing work!! Serious question though won't the wing just die? If glued how does blood circulate I know bugs organs sit in blood like substance but never thought of how it's circulated through there body to their extremities. Hope it works out! 🙏💙

[@Butterflying_with_James]

Thank you so much!! Please do share it and all maybe it will get there :) Onto the question... Butterfly wings are similar to our hair, they aren't alive. The veins are used when the butterfly has first hatched and haemolymph is pumped into them to inflate the wings. Then that haemolymph solidifies to allow the wings to dry and harden so they are strong enough to fly. So once the butterfly is flying, there is no longer any fluid pumping around in the wings. I hope that makes sense?

[@InscentiveAdvice]

@@Butterflying_with_James makes tons of sense thank u so much did the butterfly survive hope so? Gr8 job. Heart warming.

[@Butterflying_with_James]

@@InscentiveAdvice yes it did survive several more days than it would have without the procedure (which is quite a lot considering their lifespan is only about 3 weeks)

[@acedetectiveren]

just curious, what type of butterfly was the donor? it looks similar to a common bluebottle, but i'm not sure

[@Butterflying_with_James]

It is the Green-banded Swallowtail, Papilio nireus, a male:)

[@saigonmonopoly1105]

why bother can it fly while wet?

[@marcat9600]

Bendito seas...hacer de cirujano de mariposas...ponerle un ala artificial...

[@Butterflying_with_James]

Gracias!

[@pameladewitt1346]

What type of glue did you use?

[@Butterflying_with_James]

A contact ahesive :)

[@thatoneair92]

Would it not be easier to place the butterfly in a fridge to make it sleep and then perform the wing replacement as it would not require being pulled down and possibly harmed

[@Butterflying_with_James]

Yes that would be easier, but you would somehow have to keep it cold during the procedure too. Here in our climate it would warm up again very quickly and we would still need to secure it down. But yes that is a good idea thank you

[@alyshajohnson7010]

wont the glue weigh the butterfly down and all the touching will hurt the nerves in its wings???

[@Butterflying_with_James]

The glue may have some effect, but it is necessary. The butterfly could fly fine with a small (negligible) bit of glue, but could not fly at all before. Butterflies do not have nerves in their wings, but yes you do still have to be gentle handling them so as not to damage the delicate wing membrane further.

[@sonnymunroe88]

What kind of glue is that?

[@Butterflying_with_James]

It is a contact adhesive:)

[@NikSaifulBahriEN]

Hope to be like u

[@Butterflying_with_James]

:)

[@rottenkreature1041]

Whats the name of that GIGANTIC Penta plant? I want it!!!

[@Butterflying_with_James]

I am not sure exactly what that variety of Pentas is called. Here is a video with more information on that Pentas in case it helps you identify it: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nYvXh2ynaah4brM

[@user-hl5pd6yr2h]

Demoleus+nireus)))

[@Butterflying_with_James]

Yes :)) Actually demodocus which is a very similar African equivalent of demoleus, and nireus as you say:) Both beautiful

[@user-gm4oj1lp3p]

Що це означає?

[@user-hl5pd6yr2h]

@@user-gm4oj1lp3p То что одному виду бабочки приклеили крыло от другой.

[@user-hl5pd6yr2h]

Супер 👍👍👍❤️🦋

[@Butterflying_with_James]

Thank you!

[@anthonykotowicz1890]

Any chance it could fly with an artificial butterfly wing

[@Butterflying_with_James]

Yes that is possible, I have heard even of feathers being cut up into the shape of artificial wings. To get the exact thin, light, strong and flexible ideal design of a replacement wing, however, it is easiest just to use a real butterfly wing:)

[@roxanne6523]

So it doesn't need it's bottom wing to be able to fly??

[@Butterflying_with_James]

Yes! A butterfly only needs it's fore-wings to be able to fly. The hind-wings make its flight more glamorous but aren't essential :)

[@roxanne6523]

That's amazing!

[@Hello123epy4u]

When are you gonna post another video

[@Butterflying_with_James]

Likely over the summer holiday (in the Northern hemisphere)... right now I am very busy studying (studying biology, which includes butterflies:))

[@Hello123epy4u]

@@Butterflying_with_James oh ok

[@kiauni6818]

The bottom wing needed fixed too

[@Butterflying_with_James]

Yes you are right it was damaged. Butterflies only need their forewings for basic flight so fixing the top wing was sufficient to help it to fly again:)

[@preciouscrazy3118]

I'm 😭😭😭😭😭😭

[@Butterflying_with_James]

:)

[@AdamDabeanoYTgaming]

i think butterflys wing gets attaked by a bird

[@Butterflying_with_James]

Yes that is a possibility

[@user-gm4oj1lp3p]

Don't hold her wings very hard, you removing the scales

[@Butterflying_with_James]

Yes you have to be gentle holding the wings not to damage them😄 However, it is the membranes of the wings that are important. A butterfly can lose its scales and carry on flying as normal, contrary to popular belief.

[@mamietoupie3681]

🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋

[@Hyraladen]

She's in a butterfly house, she's safe, and they literally just attached a wing to her, I think they know what they're doing...