Butterfly With A Torn Wing Asks Woman For Help

[Cirsium]

5. Not a Monarch

That isn't a Monarch and it won't be going to Mexico. It is a Viceroy - Limenitis archippus. The lifespan for adults is as short as 2 weeks. There are often 2 or 3 generations in a season. They overwinter as caterpillars, and use willows species as larval host plants. The damage is likely to be from a bird strike, which is pretty common. They can still complete their life cycle with that amount of damage. Trying to "help" them can interrupt their breeding cycle in their very short lives.