Did Newt ever catch his Billywig?

Question

In the film Fantastic Beasts, Newt is asked whether he's caught all the creatures that escaped from his trunk. He replies in the affirmative.

However in several early scenes we see a bright multi-coloured insect flitting around. This, I presume is a Billywig. We never see Newt recapture this animal.

Is there any evidence that he caught it off-screen? And if so, why was it featured prominently in the early scenes, only to be forgotten later? And if not, does the fact a Billywig is lose in New York tie into future stories in the franchise?

Answer 1

Probably

Although there's no further mention of the billywig in the screenplay after Newt sees it fly past the window, in a deleted scene called "Newt Goodbye" found in the Blu-Ray extras, we find Newt's ship steaming away from Ellis Island. A billywig (possibly the same one as earlier in the film) flies toward us from the ship. The implication is that despite his new high-tech security system, more beasts have managed to escape from his case(!)

After flitting around for a few seconds, it then turns around and appears to return toward the ship.

The implication is that billywigs have a "homing" instinct.

Answer 2

It is not in the script book or the released film but a deleted scene available on the DVD/Bluray shows Newt's ship steaming away from New York and the Billywig still flying free.

I don't believe there is anything beyond this, but if a deleted scene qualifies, the answer is no, Newt did not catch his Billywig again.

Answer 3

According to director David Yates, it was eaten by a seagull.

SnitchSeeker: What do you think happened to the blue billywig that was flying around New York City? Because it wasn’t actually captured back.

David Yates: Unfortunately it got eaten by a seagull. (All laugh) It got gobbled up by a seagull.

_{David Yates, Eddie Redmayne, Dan Fogler talk 'Fantastic Beasts' plot points, Obscurus}