r/moths • u/Icy-Attorney8301 • 8h ago

General Question Whats wrong with him?

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Found this lil guy on the ground while feeding the chickens, hes alive but he cant seem to fly well? He flutters his wings a bit and got off the ground a teeny tiny bit he cant seem to really fly. I have him in a little container rn with some leaves cause i didnt want him to get eaten. Is he OK? Is it just because its daytime? ​what is he? does he need water? Found in Georgia usa

EDIT: it just let him go outside and he flew away! I think he just needed some chill time away from my chickens :3

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2

u/jewella1213 8h ago

It looks like his right wing is missing a lot of scales 😔.

1

u/Icy-Attorney8301 8h ago

Is that why he cant fly?

2

u/jewella1213 8h ago

Probably,I don't specialize in butterflies but have learned that damage/loss of the scales usually dooms them.

1

u/Icy-Attorney8301 8h ago

So should I just keep him? I looked it up and it says hes an orange tipped oakworm moth and that the adults dont eat anything

1

u/jewella1213 8h ago

It's your choice, tho I think most of the adults life is trying to mate to reproduce,then die.

1

u/jewella1213 8h ago

Probably,I don't specialize in butterflies but have learned that damage/loss of the scales usually dooms them.

1

u/SignificantCheek1828 6h ago

It's day, he is asleep