A master embroiderer employed her skills to mend the broken wing of a Monarch butterfly so that it can fly for the first time.
Costume designer Romy McCloskey recently used the skills- the precision work of her hand embroidery and embellishments to help save the life of the injured Monarch butterfly.
The monarch butterfly was just days old when Romy McCloskey discovered it couldn’t fly as it was missing a large section of its right wing. She was ‘heartbroken’ at the thought of having to put it down, so she took it upon herself to save it. Remarkably, Ms McCloskey fixed the insect by attaching a wing from a dead butterfly.
Romy started caring for caterpillars this past autumn after finding a number in her backyard, said she wanted to upload instructions of the procedure so others could help the majestic insects.
At just three days old, McCloskey gave this injured butterfly a new lease on life by repairing its broken wing. The injury was sustained while it was pupating, the final stage of development before an adult butterfly emerges from the chrysalis. In this state, the insect would be unable to fly, as butterflies rely on wing symmetry to aid in their flight. And with a short lifespan of just two to six weeks for most Monarch butterflies, they are done with their growth once they emerge as adults. Determined to help the broken bug, McCloskey thought she was up to the task after watching an instructional video on the procedure. Watch the video here:
Romy McCloskey’s love for butterflies has a lot to do with her relationship with her mom. Before McCloskey’s mother died, she told McCloskey, “Whenever you see a butterfly, know that I'm there with you, and that I love you.”
Romy posted on Facebook about the successful operation. The response was huge. "The day after I posted it, I woke up to hundreds of messages, emails, replies, and requests to know more," she said. "It was very overwhelming to see how this has spread like wildfire!"
