Hibernating peacock and small tortoiseshell butterflies in houses-what to do
I often am asked what is the best way to deal with butterflies found hibernating in houses. This may be of interest.
The small tortoiseshell butterfly may be found indoors overwintering
18 December 2012
The Red Admiral, which has become a common sight in British winters of late, doesn’t enter a proper dormancy but becomes active on any suitable days.
Among the butterflies, it is only the Small Tortoiseshell and Peacock that regularly overwinter inside houses. They come in during late summer/early autumn, when it is still warm outside and our houses appear to provide suitably cool, sheltered, dry conditions. However, come Christmas, when the central heating is cranked up, such butterflies may be awoken prematurely by high indoor temperatures. This presents a major problem for the butterfly as the outside weather conditions may be very hostile and there is little nectar available in gardens.
It is a problem for the concerned householder too. How best to help these poor confused butterflies unwittingly tricked into thinking spring has come early. The best solution is to rehouse the butterfly into a suitable location. Catch the butterfly carefully and place it into a cardboard box or similar, in a cool place for half and hour or so to see if it will calm down.
Once calmed down you might be able to gently encourage the sleepy butterfly out onto the wall or ceiling of an unheated room or building such as a shed, porch, garage or outhouse. Just remember that the butterfly will need to be able to escape when it awakens in early spring.
If you have no options at all for suitable hibernation places, then it would be best to keep the butterfly as cool as possible, to minimise activity, and then to release it outside during a spell of nice weather.
with kind permission of Richard Fox Butterfly Conservation Surveys Manager
See Also Heating and Hibernation by Butterfly Conservation
Have you heard the Peacock Butterfly anti predatory hiss with video?
I would also add that I have found many dead butterflies having over wintered in my garage and upon waking head straight for the windows. Usually spiders web abound around windows so early spring, clear away any new and even old spiders webs from such places. Even if there is no spider to prey upon the butterfly, they can die if they become trapped in the web.
If putting them inside another place, please ensure that mice will not be able to predate them.
Once safely inside a cardboard box it could be placed inside the top of the fridge, which would soon help it to calm down. Later place it as described above. You may find more than one in situ so deal with them accordingly with a larger box if necessary.
Don’t touch the wings if possible.
Very interesting..I have wondered what to do about these butterflies. Thanks for the advice.
Thanks Rosie. I get asked many times so hopefully it may help some people! Have a Merry Xmas. Cheers, George
I have many butterflies in my bedroom. They have attached themselves to a wall behind the bedroom door. They appear to be sleeping 😴 what is best advice on this, should I leave them there, I haven’t seen them moving for a long time now. Maria
I think I have explained in the article if memory serves me right Maria. A quick internet search may help also. Cheers George
I just found a peacock butterfly hibernating in my wood pile. Left it in a bucket on its side so it can get out if needed.
Just hope the rain does not seep underneath it or the wind blows the bucket away Celia.
We keep bringing hibernating peacock butterflies into the house with logs from the wood shed. They wake up in the warm, so we catch them and put them outside. I don’t put them back in the shed because they would just get brought back in on the next load of logs.
Is there anything else I should do with them.
Thanks Peter
Have you got an outbuilding, shed, similar? Put them there out of harm from mice!…. cheers George
i just found a beautiful butterfly in a spare room but it has started to open his wings . Unfortunately my father had put mothballs in the room and it stinks of mothball,i’ve moved the butterfly in to another spare room do i leave some sugared water with it ?
I cant see it being any harm Karen. Cheers George
Thank you! We have a gorgeous sleepy red admiral in our build where no heating is on. Its wings make such a loud swishing sound as it gently beats its wings but I’m concerned it will expend too much energy so will box it so it can hibernate better.
Good idea Samantha. Cheers George
We are on holiday in Veryan Cornwall. Going home to Cheltenham tomorrow. Nowhere suitable to relocate it to.
During Storm Francis a small Tortioshell entered the upstairs bathroom and is hibernating.
Not sure if to try and take it home in a box inside our cool box – 4 hour journey!
Or release it tomorrow morning which is good weather for 3 days -but need details please on how to properly release it?
Would really appreciate swift advice please.
Sorry Jacqueline, been busy. Hope you got it sorted. George
Wonderful advice. My 3 have woken up due to me, unfortunately leaving the hall light on. The heat warmed them. Caught and going in a safe, cool place now. Happily spreading the word about hibernating butterflies. So many people don’t know
Great. Please spread the word. Cheers, George
Hi Rosie,
I’ve just found a Red Admiral walking about on my kitchen floor, I think it might have come in on one of my dogs backs :0/ Anyway, I’ve given it some sugary water, to give it a boost, should I place it in the garage as you suggested, there are plenty of places for it to get out on sunny days?
Hi Hazel,
Yes put it on the roof itself where mice will find it difficult to find and eat……and leave a window/escape route for it! Cheers, George
Thank you for your great advice. I have a small tortoiseshell in a spare bedroom which is not heated. I think I will leave it there…. and regularly observe!
My pleasure, Judith. Cheers, George
I have a small tortoiseshell butterfly in my spare bedroom and I’m a little concerned about her. I don’t have anywhere else to put her. Is it OK to feed her water soaked sugar because she keeps moving about and I think she may be hungry. Please let me know what I could do to make her sleep OK til the Spring. Thank you very much indeed.
Kitty have a look at Butterfly conservation web site, you may find info there. Cheers G
I have a small tortoiseshell in my spare bedroom as well which is not heated. I have given it some sugar soaked in water because it keeps moving about and I think she may be hungry. Is it OK to keep it here? I’m a little worried about her though.
See above post, Kitty, G
Kitty i have same visitors this year.I put them into box with paper kitchen towel and smat cotton dip into sugar water. I put boxin cold place and just checked them after day and they sleeping well.In march or april i will place them on sun and leave them be free.
Nice one Mia. Thanks for sharing, George
We have a small tortoise shell indoors in July. The weather has changed from glorious sun to heavy rain. Is it just waiting for the weather to change so it can go back outside? It’s in our bedroom and the window is open.
Thanks, Danny and Gina.
Daniel difficult to say. Try Butterfly Conservation Leanne, they have great staff and a great website. HTH, George
I have a small tortoiseshell that’s been sleeping in the corner of my bedroom for about 3 weeks now. I don’t usually heat my room and even in winter I like it to be cool. Should I leave it be and monitor it? I can’t see any way of moving it without touching the wings! Also we lock up garage and shed over winter, so if it wakes it won’t be able to get out immediately. Thanks in advance
My pleasure Nix. Cheers, George
A small proportion of ST’s hibernate very early, as a kind of insurance policy for the species. It’s destined to sleep until next March or April. It’s looking for some kind of unheated shelter.
Thanks again, Cheers George
after reading this I am about to tend to my little friend thanks for the advise
regs Carol
Good on yer Carol! Cheers, George
Hi Rosie
A small tortoishell came into my house yesterday so I put it in a butterfly house behind my door for the night. It hasn’t been active and has remained in the same spot it is the second night now, where shall I put it? I really need an answer ASAP
Thank you so much, me and the butterfly 🙂
Lily, Put it in an outdoor building, shed etc.,away from mice. HTH cheers George
I can’t find any where to put it, shall I leave it in the coolest place of the house or release it?
Release it Lily on a warm day if poss., Cheers George
Ok, thank you so much!
Hello, I have successfully (so far!) hibernated a red admiral, I put it in a small cardboard box with a little slit hole as advised on these type of websites and have checked on it through the winter. It is still alive but hasn’t moved at all. I’m not sure when to encourage it to wake up. It is lovely and sunny today and will be for the next few days, although still freezing at night, is it too early to pop the box on the shed roof? I don’t want it to try and escape and get caught in cobweb or something.
Can you give me some device please?
Many thanks, Jenna xx
Hi Jenna, Thanks for sharing a lovely little story! I would wait a while longer and look at the weather for a few days then when you see a window of 5 days warmer temps then release it in readiness as suggested on web sites. Cheers, George
Hi, i have just moved into an old house in the countryside, in my bedroom i have found round twenty stunning butterflies they are all huddled together under the curtains and seem sleepy (its only September 6th) what on earth should i do to keep them safe, are they hibernating already?
thank you in advance
Sounds like there are at the early stages. On a warm sunny day try to move them into a show box and release them outdoors. HTH George
We have just found a bunch maybe 10-15 tortoiseshell butterfly’s in our ally way. Are we best to leave them alone? Or move them? Any advice greatfully received x
Send me a photo please so I can see for myself as to best deal with this. Thanks, George
High butterfly people …is it just me or am I seeing a lot less of our beautiful little friends this year
Not just you Carol…its a fact http://butterfly-conservation.org/1643/the-state-of-britains-butterflies.html Cheers, George
Hi everyone,come home today and on my window sil is a beautiful red admiral,it was on its side,so brought it in and after a couple of hours it’s now up right and it’s little legs and feelers are all ok.could you tell me what to do,do I give it something to drink.please help me on this he’s beautiful.
Put it somewhere safe, away from mice, outdoors in a shed, garage, similar and hopefully it will hibernate. HTH Cheers, George
I have one the same in my bedroom I’ve named him George and once he becomes active in the spring I’ll let him out, but if they get too warm they will wake up so then he’ll go in my cool lean to out house up out of the way of mice on top of the ceiling or wall untill spring but for now he’s in my bedroom try putting yours in a box and putting him somewhere cool to settle down but high up away from mice or spider webs
Good advice Tracey. Cheers, George
I have a Red Admiral in the house. I found a box to put it in for hibernation. Should anything be put in the box with the butterfly
A few air holes and made sure from mice though best put outside on the inner roof of a shed/similar HTH G
Hi, I’ve just found a butterfly that must have been overwintering in my daughters bedroom. It was on the windowsill just above the radiator which was on full blast. The poor thing was flapping away. Anyway I have managed to catch it and place it in a pop up butterfly habitat thing ( we raised butterflies last year and still have all the kit) but now what? Any advice would be greatly received? We have an old wooden garage but to be honest it is full of spiders and we think some mice!!! Don’t want to put the butterfly from the frying pan into the fire so to speak! It’s pretty mild for December but raining can I release it? Feeling very protective of our visitor!!!
How nice that you care!! If a window can be kept open in your garage you can always place the butterfly on the inside slope of your roof where mice will not be able to climb. The open window will be an escape route and try to keep it spider web free HTH George
Just found a butterfly in our games room ! It has a big vaulted ceiling plus we have the log burner on ! What should I do with it !!
Hi Carol,
Gently catch it and place inside a cardboard box with air holes and a lid and put it outside in a shed, garage, outhouse away where mice cannot get it and there is a spider and web free exit for it to safely leave. HTH, Cheers, George
I have just picked up a butterfly from the shower tray (before I went in the wash so it’s not wet). I thought it was dead but after a minute of holding it it stretched its wings. I have put it in the utility room (cool on there, no heating). Is there anything else I can do to help it? Thank you
Hi Linda, As long as it is cold in there make sure that mice cannot get at it and there is a way out for it which is spider and web free. HTH, Cheers George
I have just found a beautiful tortoise she’ll fluttering around my light fixtures in my bedroom and after reading all the above comments have just sorted out a little cardboard box…put some air holes in it and am about to send him/ her into a hopefully peaceful hibernation for the winter in my shed xx
Nice one Claire, of mice you should be aware!! Good luck 👍
Found a little beauty last night behind the Christmas tree. By this morning he had moved across the room. Seemed kind of lifeless. I put him on a small plate that had a little water. He looked like he took one of his little legs, put in water, then put up to his mouth. Now I put him on a piece of paper to dry. I’ll fashion a small box for him to hibernate.
Thanks for sharing. Try it with a little sugar honey water. Cheers George
Try a little sugar honey warm water Judith. Thx for sharing George
Thank you.
My pleasure Judith, cheers G
I have had a little fella hibernating in the corner of my bedroom for the last 5 months, suddenly today he fell to the floor and started moving. He then took flight to the sunniest window of the house (closed). It took me a minute to find a suitable box but managed to get him in it and have placed him in the fridge to help him calm down. I live in a flat so have no outhouse, garage or garden to move him to. What should I do next?
Good thinking re fridge as a temporary home. Do you not have any friends who would not mind adopting it for you? Cheers, G
Unfortunately not, at the moment he is living in my bedroom (the coolest room of the flat) which has a temperature between 12 and 17 degrees center-grade. Is this cool enough? I have had a peep in the box and he seems to have decided to sleep at the top of the box, i’m taking that as a good sign as he is not dead at the bottom.
Try contacting butterfly conservation…..http://butterfly-conservation.org/55/contact.html#01 the cheers G
Found peacock butterfly awake downstairs and have carried up to attic where there is no heat.Have checked it and it hasn, t moved but it has its wings open and eyes up ,can I do anything for it? The weather is cold and wet so didn’t want to put it out as there doesn,t seem to be any flowers blooming yet.What time of year do they go out?Will it be all right if it has awakened now?
Hi Linda, It is weather temperatures that brings them out. Its a difficult call. Can it get out of the attic? Have you a shed or outdoors building it can go and easily get out from bearing in mind spiders webs around windows? You are right, there is not much food available for it at the moment. Have a look at the Butterfly Conservation Trust web site that may have more details. HTH George
Hi,
I have 9 Red Admiral butterflies nesting in my backroom over winter, i have left heater off and have a no enter message on door, should i open window so if they waken they can leave or what is best option?? I’m Balintore area, north Scotland, and should i leave sugary water in room?
Many thanks
Hi Sandra, yes open the window after this cold snap we are expecting and let them make their own way out but make sure there are no spiders webs nearby to ensnare the butterflies. Cheers, George
Hi everyone wondering if I could get some advice I think it’s a red admiral we have in our dining room, been there about 5 weeks but definitely alive as every now and then hell flutter his wings… he’s upside down hanging off our light. Can anyone advise on how I could move him without hurting him as we haven’t put the lights on so far but it’s getting darker and the kids can’t see their dinner! 😂 Thank you
Get a jam jar, trap it inside, cover it over with a tea towel and release it outside. there are still flowers around for it to find, it’s a little early for it to hibernate.
Hi I’ve had a butterfly in sons room for about 6 weeks now I dident realise they stayed so long what shall I feed it ect it must be hungry no matter what it won’t leave it seems to like his room as it’s very cool I’m thinking that’s why many thanks
Get a jam jar, trap it inside, cover it over with a tea towel and release it outside. there are still flowers around for it to find, it’s a little early for it to hibernate. is still time for
We currently have 4 butterflies who seem to be hibernating in our hallway, but isn’t it a bit early for this?? & the weather is beautiful at the moment!…..should I leave them be until spring or put them back outside?
Many thanks, Joanne.
Joanne, I think it best to contact butterfly conservation HTH, Cheers George
Hi, I’ve had a red admiral stay in my room for the past couple of days. It appears to be trying to overwinter, but it seems a little early to me. I’ve been trying to feed it sugared water in the meantime, and have tried to leave the window open to give it every opportunity to leave, but it seems quite settled. Should I release it? Or should I find it a safe place and allow it to hibernate? Thanks
Jake, I would release it when a few warm days are forecast! Cheers, George
i have the same thing i have a red admiral in my room its been in my room for about a month or so and i had no clue what to do with it , i recently got it of my wall thinking it was a dead moth when i got it down it opened it wings and sat quite content on my finger i tried feeding it some honey water but i dont know if it has eaten it because i am no expert on butterflies so now it is in a cardboard shoe box on my windowsill if anyone has any advice that would be much appreciated
thanks x
Hi George i found a tortishell in my washing basket and they hopped around and found my Himalayan salt lamp which it really liked for the heat – i also left a small bowl of honey mixed with water near it – not sure if it has had any over night but its there for it – i have a shed in my allotment which will be cold – should i transfer it there for the autumn/ winter period since when it wakes up it should have plenty of vegetation / flowers etc in the feed for its nectar supply ?
Yes transfer it to an outdoor shed and put in a place where mice or spiders won’t catch them. Cheers G
Hi all, just a quick query, I have a red admiral that I’ve been tending to for a few days inside and out, mostly inside due to the weather though. One of its wings is half gone and the other doesn’t look too good either. Have fed it sugar water and let it fly around but it can’t go too far due to injury and seems settled. Going to attempt to make a home for hibernation. What would you recommend I put in it?
Hi Kelsia, a mouse proof container with air vents inside a wooden shed/similar, check in spring. HTH, Cheers George
Hi George,
Thanks for the advice, should I put any bark or something similar in the box? Will it need sugar water at all?
I should not think you need bark. No the sugar water may attract mice. Cheers George
Please help! I spotted a red admiral in the road yesterday and it was my instant reaction to pick it up, it was not looking well. I noticed it’s wings are ripped and cannot fly. It is currently sitting on my dwarf sunflower in the cool porch. I gave it honey water but don’t know what to do next. How long will it survive in this state if I keep feeding it? I have nowhere else to put it. Should I keep feeding it or let nature take its course 😢.
Difficult call that is Lisa. Try putting it inside a shed or outhouse on a wall away from mice. Cheers, George
Lisa what a tough call. If you kept it alive and it hibernated how will it live in the spring? I would let nature take its place 😕George
Thanks George, that was my concern too. I gave the poor thing a fighting chance but it didn’t make it 😩. It maybe had other injuries. At least it saw out the last of its time in a safe and quiet place 👍. Thanks for the help and honest advice.
I have just found one of these butterfly in my home. It has calmed and is settled in a cardboard house a teddy bear came in. I am concerned as I live in a flat with no outbuildings and can not keep windows open. Please advice on the best thing for me to do please. Many thanks
Hi Amy, on a warmish day let it free to find its own hibernation site. HTH, George
So glad I found this page. I found a beautiful butterfly on my hall floor and put him on some cut flowers while I looked up how to help him. Thank you! I have a covered wood store in the garden with an open front. I will check for webs and put the box up as high as I can. Should I keep the lid on until it warms up or have an escape hole?
Thanks. Yes keep the box as predator proof as possible.. Best, George
Hi – glad I found your website 🙂
A tortoiseshell butterfly had been on our spare room ceiling for a few months. I don’t know a lot about butterfly’s but now guess it was hibernating. Went in today and it was flying around with my 2 cats waiting underneath! Read I could give it honey mixed with water which I did but it’s so cold out and I can’t leavd it in the spare room as we are decorating. Would it be best in our covered alleyway, shed (window missing in the shed so it can get out) or green house ?! Thanks!
Hi, just to add to the above, I could put him in a box it won’t be able to get out of and put the box in the loft and then release him in spring?
Would you remember it there though in the loft?!! Cheers, George
Shed, the greenhouse will warm up and fluctuate too much Lucy. Cheers, George
Thanks for your reply George. I would definitely remember it in the loft, it’s really cool up there and will be the safest place I think. I will put him in a box with air holes in and move him up there today. When would be good to release him back out? Spring or summer? Thanks again.
Thankyou for your helpful information.
My pleasure Anne. Cheers, George
Hi George, I have a small Tortoiseshell that I found in my kitchen and transferred to our garage….it came back in and has been in our cool bedroom for a couple of weeks now. It seems to open its wings in the day and close them and go to a darker place for the night. I have left a window open but it seems to want to stay inside. I tried to give it some sugar water but it seems to fluster it so now I’m leaving it alone. Any advice? I’m so keen to keep it alive! Thanks
Kate put it in a mouseproof box and place inside a shed, garage etc. Cheers, G
Hi I have found a peacock butterfly in my house my house is warm because there’s 8 inches of snow on the groung where I live he is very lively ,he’s in my front room ,my house is warm what can I do to protect him till at least the snow has gone he is lovely .
Feed it sugar water, and place inside mouseproof box in shed outbuilding.Cheers G
there’s a painted lady butterfly in my house, its been there since my Gran died in July, she loved butterflies, i thought it was dead, but it started moving in September, it keeps on waking up, what should i do?
Feed it sugar water, put it in a mouseproof box and place inside a shed, garage etc. Cheers, G
A small tortoiseshell butterfly has been on my bathroom floor since Sunday 10th.
It’s alive. It seems to be in a sort of semi-hibernation state. It has moved to different places on my bathroom floor. It sometimes has it’s wings open, but sometimes they’re closed. It doesn’t flap about like a butterfly usually does. Yesterday I gently moved it out of harms way…It was in the middle of my bathroom floor, so I moved it to the edge of the floor next to the skirting board…It didn’t resist or flap at all!
I live in a maisonette of the 3rd & 4th floor, so I don’t have a shed or garage to move it to.
I don’t mind it staying in my bathroom all Winter. My toilet is my coldest room, but I worry it would move in the “traffic area” & get accidentally stood on.
my bathroom is a cool room & there’s less chance of it getting hurt.
If it was in a fully hibernating state then I could put it in an out if the way bit of my toilet or bathroom. Then I’d feel much better knowing it was safe.
is there a way to make it go back into hibernation?
If there isn’t it’s ok. I’ll just monitor where it is in my bathroom to make sure it’s out of harms way.
I also wondered when should it usually wake up from hibernation?
Julie, the state of hibernation is temperature dependent. In spring as temp warm that when they emerge. Indoors is difficult as it is warmer than outdoors…..bathrooms tend to fill up with moist air which may not be good for the butterfly…..HTH G
Oh I never thought of the moisture being an issue. Maybe I will move the bitterly to a dryer/cool room.
will it need any food or drink while it’s I this state? I’m sure in full hibernation it doesn’t, but I wondered if it’s in full or semi hibernation?
I’ve noticed the butterfly (see my comments above) hasn’t moved in a week or 2. I don’t know if it’s gone into full hibernation or has dead. Is there a way of knowing which it is?
in the last week or 2 I haven’t touched it because I don’t want to disturb it.
It’s standing (on the floor) with its wings closed. Would it fall over if it was dead?
I really hope it’s alive. I’d feel terrible if it died in my house. 🙁
I’m guessing all butterflies would’ve come out of hibernation by now?
the one in my bathroom still hasn’t. 🙁
George ??? Please answer this.. my daughter has a red admiral whose wings never expanded…. she has had it for 17 days and takes it to and fro work and home. It feeds well on fruit and flower nectar, but as Autumn is approaching wondering what she can do to allow it to live as long as possible… ‘Brian’ is healthy and active despite not being able to fly..she will continue to look after him , but for obvious reasons can’t follow your advice re ultimate release
Hmmm. Difficult one Sally. Try Butterfly conservation, they will probably give you good advice. Cheers, George
We have a small tortoiseshell butterfly in our living room , it’s on the wall by a wall light , been there all day , the room is very warm as we have a coal fire , what is the best thing to do to help the butterfly, any help would be greatly appreciated.
Hi Louise, put it into a cardboard box with a slit for air and out of harms way in s a garage, shed etc away from mice. HTH George
My daughters got a butterfly garden for Christmas. The Catapillar’s are just getting ready to build a cocoon. It is freezing where I live and I’m not sure what to do once they emerge as butterflies. Will they live in a bedroom? Do I keep them in a box as I’ve read well they live until spring? We have a screened in back porch do I leave the box in the back porch or is that still too cold?
Difficult for me to say Jas. I’m sure your instructions can deal with this matter far better than I can. If not get in touch with your supplier, whom I’m sure will be only too glad to help. Cheers, George
I gave some honey water to a tortoiseshell I found in my house and sadly it’s wings have got sticky and damaged by the liquid – am so sad for it. Should I euthanise (if so how is kindest?) or is there anything I can do? Thanks!
Hi Eos, What a shame! This is an area I would not like to advise as there may be a way, I’m not sure. Contact Butterfly conservation and seek their advice. Good Luck, Cheers, George
I have a toritishell in my garage in a carboard box. at first he was hagning on the top of the box hanging upside down. He has fallen off and is on the bottom on his side. He is still alive as i thought he died so i brought him inside and as he warmed up his leg moved. Im wondering if he is ok on his side? or should he be hanging upside down. Should i wake him and get him into a better position or just leave him in the position he is until i let him free in a few months?
Contact Butterfly Conservation Krista they may be able to help. Cheers, George
This morning I found a red admiral suddenly flapping to get out of sitting room window. I have no idea where it came from (possibly entered when gasman left the door open?). I immediately let it out but now I’ve skimmed through this thread and am wondering did I do the right thing?
I live in rural area near Sheffield – it’s mild now but will turn frosty in a few days.
Will it be able to get food? Will it survive?
It may well survive if it has enough energy left to fly on a mild day and it finds suitable forage and than a roosting site Tim. Cheers, George
hey I just found a Canadian Yellowtail in my house. it was 75 today but will be 35 (F) tomorrow… what do I do with it?
Ask the Canadian wildlife organisations Cassandra. I’m UK based! George
from old website
Hi i found a tortoise shell on my window, it cant fly out , its nice but going to rain and were not guaranteed good weather constant, should i help it out of my home,? What should i do?
Have you an outhouse, shed, garage, put it there.Cheers George
Hi thanks for replying, yes but i have just moved in and its dusty as anything. I opened the window yesterday , a top section opening to maybe cool her down it was really cold and wet yesterday, and she stopped moving. Later on she had gone completely and i was distressed tbh because it was hammering it down outside. But i got up this morning and she was in the bathroom and its a glorious day so Ive opened the window (and she flew out as i am typin, well , get on to the window that was actualy open,) i have caught it on video!! Its a really nice day and i know she will have more than ample time to do her thing befor any rough weather again. Happy ending/beginning 🙂
I meant cool her down because it was warm with central heating in my home and cold outside. Thanks George
VERY HAPPY ENDING Les, thanks for sharing! Cheers, George
It is yes, after thinking it was an unhappy ending the day before, was wonderfully elating to se her pop out the window. Your welcome, great site , great people, willuse this again if any more fly in towards winter 👍 take care
Hi, I just found a hibernating tortoiseshell in the recesses of my garage. Wings together, clinging to the bottom of a wooden trolley that I need to move and use. (July 23 2018)
I assumed that it was mummified from last year, but as I carefully picked it off, its legs started moving.
I carried it out and set it down on a buddleia flower. It immediately opened its wings, which appeared to be in perfect condition. It didn’t attempt to take nectar, and flew off energetically after a couple of minutes in the sunshine. Had this really been there since last year? Or do they take refuge if it is too hot / dry? Any ideas, please?
I would contact butterfly Conservation, this does sound unusual and maybe the hot weather. I’m not sure. Cheers, George
Some ST’s hibernate very early. It will have been a 2018 specimen. It’s designed to live for 10-11 months….they hibernate, then mate in the Spring. Letting it out early in high summer is not what it particularly wanted, but wouldn’t have done it any harm!
Thanks for sharing, George
Hi, we have had a butterfly hanging from our bedroom ceiling for 3 days now and it hasn’t moved. Is it hibernating already? Should i move it outside or leave it where it is?
Remove and release it on a hot sunny day Claire. Cheers George
Hi, it is the 26th of July 2018
I have a butterfly on the bedroom ceiling who hasn’t moved for several days do I need to put it out side????
And how to I capture it without damaging it?
A net, large jar?
I would Shelley. Gently does it though! Cheers, George
I am petrified of butterflies
It was a shock to find them in my loft flyng around. I don’t know how i can deal with it im to sceard to go near them
Completely harmless beautiful creatures. Perhaps ask a friend or neighbour to release them or simply leave them be. HTH George
wow so glad i found this site.. i have had a red admiral hibernating on one of my ceilings since june. We are now in August! the hottest summer. I didnt know they hibernated, i thought they only lived for a few days!!! So i thought he was dead and kept meaning to hoover him up. lucky i ended up knocking him down with a towel because he woke up. I have let him out the window. so i have learnt something today, but question why he was hibernating through summer. Anyone????
Not sure Joanne, it does appear too early and I do not think the hot weather would have been a reason for it to hide away. Perhaps it could not escape from your house and decided to save energy awaiting an opportunity? Cheers George
Some species can aestvate – sleep during the hotter months. Brimstones often do. Red Admirals are very adaptable to all sorts of weather conditions.
Appears so, Simon.
We have had 8 – 10 small tortoiseshells hibernating in our house since the middle of May (before the heatwave started). Can I just put them outside? We are about to sell our house.
Thank you
If you have not sold your house just now, that may be a good idea. Although perhaps Butterfly Conservation may know? Cheers, George
Hi
I rescued a peacock butterfly from my cat about 4 wks ago. Unfortunately he has some wing damage (and cannot fly), he hops and has occasionally fluttered to the ground. I have kept him under a large glass mixing bowl. Each day I provide a fresh stem of Budlea and he always has some sugar water available. I haven’t seen him feeding at all, he does however open his wings and gently move them in the sunshine. As the temperature has dropped recently he has become quite dormant. He appears to like to sit on my hand, think he likes the body heat. I can’t put him outside as he’s not able to fly. Weather man says high temperatures again soon. I would appreciate any advice on how to overwinter him. I live in a 2nd floor flat without central heating. Please give me some advice… Will his wing ever heal etc? Oh and by the way I know he’s a he ‘cos he said his name is Berty Ha! …. Many thanks Vicky
Well, Marie, I’m sorry to say Berty’s wing will not heal and other than searching my website or google, I would not know how best to overwinter him. Cheers, George
Put him in a tub in the fridge (honestly). I had some Camberwell Beauties the other year, and that’s where they went. I woke them up once or twice and gave them a feed. They all got through the winter safely.
Hm, nice one Simon. Cheers George
Thanks George
My pleasure Stephanie. Cheers George
Hi
I found 2 small Tortoishells (separate days) fluttering at my bedroom window, awoken by the central heating.
I was nervous of leaving them in the garage because of the spiders at the window so I covered a cardboard box with bubble wrap and fixed it about 5ft up in a corner of our carport. Each butterfly is in a smaller box inside the covered box. The boxes all have openings so the butterflies can get out when it warms up. I’ve also put net screen across the corner to protect the area too. Do you think this will give them a fighting chance…its so cold at the moment and I’m hoping I haven’t done the wrong thing.
Thanks
Liz
see my other reply Liz. Cheers George
Hi George, you’re amazingly patient, answering the same questions, over and over, over years! But you’ve probably saved thousands – made some measurable difference to the national population of butterflies – what with all the others like me who find this site in a hurry while clearing somewhere, and then just move on, having found out what’s best to do. So I left you this message on their behalf.
I too am wondering why so many butterflies are dormant on such a warm day, after such a hot summer too. Maybe too dry for them, and food shortage and hence stored-energy shortage as result too? Many of the buddleias and other food plants around here (S. Devon) where wilting and giving-up flowering early, but starting again now. I doubt insecticides would be an issue here, as I’m in the midst of probably the biggest, continuously organically farmed and managed area of the country!
Anyway, I just put the things I needed to move outside in the sun to warm them up, and butterflies have all flown off after half an hour without further interference.
Appreciate your first comment Trev, thanks. I had the same thing happen to my bees. The shortage of rain caused flowers to wilt, lessen their nectar supply and then die early. This lack of forage I feel affected my wild bees. Many weeks later we had a few decent downpours and now, I have a late flush of some flowers but no solitary bees, a few bumblebees and hardly any butterflies 🙁 Cheers George
Hi, I have found a butterfly hibernating in my hall. I live in a flat so have no where to put it over winter. I have read from other comments that I should let it out on a warm day. But I just wonder how warm is warm enough please?
Ruth, Let it out if sunny, and not raining. Today is a great day! HTH< George
Hi can anyone please help? I have a brown thing on my wall, from a distance it looks a bit like a lump on fluff/wool or something just darker than the wall but close up it is a moth type creature.
it seems like it is an optical illusion as on camera you can see the shape of wings, it is very well camouflaged.
any ideas what it is, it is varying shades of browny grey with a look of a dried leaf.
any ideas? it is freaking me out
Poss idly a moth Pauline? Cheers G
Hi George,I realise the Red Admiral butterfly is mainly a migrant but some do try to overwinter here so I’m not sure what to do? I found one on my path on the night of the 6th November. It was raining and the butterfly was a bit damp with it’s wings open. I picked it up with a leaf and put it safely to oneside so that it wouldn’t get trodden on. It’s been closed up since then but heavy rain is forecast.
Shall I put in in a shoe box (with escape slot) with the hope it will dry out? Do I offer it some honey water?
We have a shed but there are mice and spiders there but we do have a spare room where the heating is off. Would that be suitable? I want to give it the best chance I can.
Thanks, Paula
Hi Paula, A mouseproof box with air holes in the shed. Nice story! Thanks, George
I found a peacock butterfly in the garden last week on the floor brought it in as it is so cold put it in a small glass jar with holes in the lid every day I shake the jar thinking it has died but it has kept going for 1 week now what should I do with it
Put it inside an outhouse shed similar out of harms way from mice
Hi,
I have a red admiral in the window if my spare room – wakes up regularly with the sunshine, flaps a bit then goes back to sleep. However the weather is wet, wild and windy outside and I have no garage or outbuilding. Please can you advise whether it would be kindest keepingng it in (we do have lots of big spiders/webs) or putting it outside in the horrible weather.
I can make a cardboard box house for it when I get home tonight if that helps.
Nat, have you a cool room at all with no central heating? Mouse proof box would be a good idea too. HTH, Cheers, George
I found a small tortoiseshell this morning asleep on my stair carpet ! Luckily I didn’t step on him or her. My shed and garage are very spidery and I’m not sure there’s a suitable way out come Spring. How cold does a room indoors have to be to keep the butterfly hibernating ? I have a cloakroom with no heating that used to be a pantry that is cold . Any advice would be great.
That may be a good idea, Diana, as long as it does not warm up when you have the heating on and it is put into mouse proof container. Good luck! Cheers George
Hi. We are currently doing up a house. I’m guessing a lot of butterflies came in when the windows weren’t in and we have now turned the heating on and I keep finding butterflies everyone we go back. Since reading your post I have put them in a cardboard box in the garage. Can they stay in this til spring as they haven’t got an escape route in there and no other suitable place? There’s one red admiral, should this one be released? Thanks
It looks like some warm weather is coming so release them on a warm day with sunshine. Cheers, George
Hello, I think I need some advice. I’ve just moved house, and seem to have inherited some new pets! 6 hibernating butterflies, I cannot see the markings to identify them. They are in my en-suite bathroom, which has previously been unused, but being disabled I was planning to make it my own little chill out space. I have no problem sharing the space with them, (I love butterflies) but am concerned about the changes in heat and moisture levels disturbing them.
Can someone please give me some advise on what is the best way for me to proceed with my new friends?
Many thanks in advance.
Leanne
Try Butterfly Conservation Leanne, they have great staff and a great website. HTH, George
Hi George, I hope you can help. I have ‘acquired’ a small tortoiseshell butterfly in my stairwell a few days ago ( thurs aug 28th 2019) and had assumed it was dead. no movement at all however now I believe it has come in to possibly begin to hibernate? am on northwest coast of uk and we have some horrid gale force winds and heavy rain. It fell to the floor and husband picked it up and sat it on the top of my curtain in the living room. Very little movement but it has ‘wandered’ a couple of inches from where it was. I have found a recipe from BC to make some sugar water. If I put it on a small sponge and put that on a lid in a shoe box with the lid cracked ajar – would this be adequate? I don’t have access to a shed but have 2 empty, unheated bedrooms. Would it be safe in there and is there anything I need to watch out for? Many thanks in advance 🙂
Mice, spiders, spider webs and warmth which may make the butterfly wake up….HTH, George
We have 4 cats and a dog. Never had mice in the 17yr I’ve lived here. I’ve left it in the closest of the 2 spare bedrooms which is the back of the house and check the room daily for spiders (we do have a resident spider called Fred but he lives in the attic a lot) and I check the sugar water to make sure that the sponge hasn’t dried any. So far, so good. Thanks for your site! I’d still have been scratching my head if I hadn’t came across it. I’ll let you know how it goes
Hi George,
Lovely site and good advice. I have a small red admiral in the house, a barn conversion, she’s moved location a couple of times over the last few days although basically stayed in the same area…reading your notes above would I be doing best to move it to cardboard box in shed or would an I heated bedroom on the house suffice. Be very grateful if you have a min to let me know,
Thanks
Hi Michael, I think you are right, mouseproof cardboard box in an outhouse, HTH, Cheers George
Thanks George she’s managed to get out of the box and is sitting, wings folded on the edge think I shd leave her or put her back down, gently ?
Thanks
Put it on the inside roof of an outhouse, garage or shed etc. I often find them there. HTH, Cheers George
Hello George i have read your advice and some posts regarding hibernation. I ‘ve put 4 butterflys in a cardboard box and have an old brick baking oven in my living room.
It’s dark and cool and open up to the room can they stay there?
Because the bats are in the garage and mice in the shed!
Please let me know. Bye iain
As long as it remains cool Ian, then they should be ok, but keep checking them as spring approaches. You could, of course, suspend the box on strings on the inner slope of the roof which mice could not access with upside-down crawling? HTH, George
Hi there,
Thank you for this article. We just discovered a large peacock butterfly and my boyfriend was about to open the window and let him out when I thought no he would die at this time of year let’s look for advice. We fed him and it was wonderful to see him enjoy a meal but then we were lost on what to do next so luckily came across your crash course in butterfly first aid! He is now in the fridge in a nice place but wanted to check a couple of things. Should the container be sealed and also does he need feeding again before March and we release him? Thanks so much again for helping us give him a chance.
Hm! Nicola, is it a frost-free fridge? It may be worth visiting https://butterfly-conservation.org as they will know far more than me. HTH, Cheers George
Hi, so I have a very similar experience to everyone above. I’ve managed to capture the small tortoiseshell in a cardboard box and planning to put him/her (?) in my fridge for a while before going into shed in the morning.
Can it stay in fridge overnight? It’s frost-free.
Many thanks, Claire
Yes in a cardboard box is a good idea with air holes.HTH George
Hi, I live in downtown Rome and a couple of weeks ago a pieris napi came into my apartment. I have read that this species does not hibernate successfully but I’d like to help her as much as I can. Even if the weather is not too cold here (5-14°C) she has not flown away when I have left the window wide open on sunny days… the apartment does not have a balcony or outlet to place a box. The heating inside the apartment is not too strong, especially near the windows temperature may be about 17°C. A few times she has moved around and at some point was drinking water droplets that had formed on the window pane. She is now motionless between two pieces of furniture. I read about placing butterflies in the fridge but it may be too much for this species… Cannot figure what’s the best thing to do. Thanks in advance!
Do you have an Italian society for butterflies Paola? I am aware that Red Admirals here did not hibernate but now do…. HTH Cheers, George
I have found a lovely tortoiseshell and it is now in a small box in one of our unheated bedroom. I’ve closed the curtains but it’s not really dark.
May I keep it there? And may I keep it in the box? It seems ok and it won’t be disturbed
As long as the room is cool, no heating and it probably is dark in the box, Michela? Cheers George
Hi I’ve had five Peacock butterflies hibernating in my garage since last August (it’s cold in there) on Wednesday one of them had gone but it was back outside the garage door tonight (waiting to be let back in?) – I only know they’re definitely peacocks because when I moved the garage door I got the warning ! Should I put it back inside? Should I leave some sugar water out ? Or just leave them to it?
I would put it back inside Lizzie. Cheers George
what a lot of lovely caring people here. So refreshing after the cruel trolls on most websites. Cheers, folks.
Yes, quite nice eh? Cheers, George
Hi, I’ve got a red admiral that emerged from it chrysalis in late December 2019 inside my porch. As the weather was really cold and windy from then onwards I checked on here how to keep it dormant. It has been in a cardboard box in the dark in my cold spare room til now. When do I release it pleas? It has shown no sign of stirring even though the room is warmer no and some sunlight hits the slit in the box. If I mix up the sugar solution and place it onto the cotton wool ball soaked in it, is there a chance it will taste it and drink it before I release it? Surely now it’s food reserves will have been used up? Concerned about the poor thing and just hope it hasn’t died. Thanks for all your useful articles and the advice you give on here, it all helps!
Put it outdoors on a sunny day Sally and let the sun shine on it. If it’s alive that should do the trick. Cheers, George
Thanks George, all sorted 🙂
I’ve just gently unleashed a red admiral from a spider web ..shes flying around..does have a shorter leg but can fly …should I put her / him in a box above my fridge as suggested it is the first of December so I’m not sure if they should be hibernating
They do hibernate so yes put it somewhere away from mice in an outhouse. https://nurturing-nature.co.uk/wildlife-garden-videos/red-admiral-butterflies-do-they-hibernate-in-britain/
Cheers George
Great article and thanks for writing it.
Can I ask please (and appreciate you’ve answered some of these questions in the article already), we have a small tortoiseshell butterfly in the house. At night when the heat is on it wakes up and flutters around.
I want to do the right thing but am confused.
We live in a small mid terrace house so there’s no outhouse or anything. We have a shed, but surely the butterfly will get eaten by a spider or something.
We’re happy to let it stay inside the house until the Spring but doesn’t it need to eat?
Should we…
A) Leave it in the house until Spring, freely flying around as it sees fit
B) Leave it in the house, but put it in a cool box somewhere
C) Put it in the Shed
D) Release it outside
Thanks
Adam
Hi Adam, Thanks for sharing this. I suggest you contact Butterfly Conservation as I am not a butterfly expert and would not like to give you duff info. Cheers, George
I have 6 small tortoiseshell butterflies in a room at the top of our old house. The heating in that room is minimal as it is not used every day but they are moving about and sometimes are clustering by the window. I see the advice about putting them into a cardboard box and cooling them down, but how big should this box be for 6 of them? Also, I worry about putting them in the shed as there be spiders!
As long as spiders and mice cannot get into the box, you won’t need a huge one…
I need some reassurance – I was sitting on my bed when I heard fluttering on the window inside . There was a beautiful butterfly sitting on a teddy . It seemed to want to get out the window , I had no idea how it got in the house and didn’t know they hibernate but after reading all these wonderful messages , I realise I should have put it in a cool place etc – now I feel so bad that I let it free ! I thought I was doing the right thing .
Please tell me it will hopefully survive out there . I’m so cross with myself now , I’d have loved to have kept it until spring and done the right thing
Thank you
Kerry
Kerry, we all learn by making mistakes then finding out by reading etc, that we were wrong. Hey, you will know for next time and your butterfly may well have found another location. Cheers George
Hi
I recently moved two butterflies that had been woken by the central heating in my bedroom.
I moved them to a cooler place and they calmed down.
We have a garage but there are so many spiders I was worried they would be caught in webs at the window.
I put the butterflies in smaller boxes inside a cardboard box (all with openings) wrapped with bubble wrap and mounted the box in a sheltered corner of our carport.
Its been so cold recently, do you think there is a chance they will survive?
Many thanks and apologies if I’ve sent this twice!
Liz.
I do ~Liz, but be mindful of mice…bubble wrap may cause condensation? Cheers George