Monarch Butterfly
Overview
The monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) is an insect native to North America that annually travels thousands of kilometers to migrate to Mexico. They primarily feed on milkweed as larvae and nectar as adults, contributing to pollination. Their lifespan can range from a few weeks to a few months, with the migratory monarchs living longer. Monarchs show remarkable resilience by experiencing temperatures from near freezing to over 38 degrees Celsius!
Appearance
Long, delicate antennae.
Bright orange wings with black veins and borders.
Distinctive black and white spotted pattern along wings.
Average wingspan of 3-4 inches.
Life Cycle
Monarch butterflies undergo a fascinating life cycle with very distinct stages:
Egg Stage: Monarch butterflies lay their eggs on milkweed plants, which serve as the sole food source for their larvae. A female monarch can lay hundreds of eggs during her lifetime. These eggs are very small and are usually laid individually on the underside of milkweed leaves.
Larva (Caterpillar) Stage: Once the eggs hatch, small caterpillars emerge. They start feeding on the milkweed leaves almost immediately. Monarch caterpillars grow rapidly, shedding their skin multiple times as they go through several growth stages. Their distinct striped appearance serves as a warning to predators that they are toxic due to the milkweed toxins they ingest.
Pupa Stage: After reaching a certain size, the caterpillar attaches itself to a suitable surface, often a milkweed stem, and forms a chrysalis. The caterpillar undergoes a remarkable transformation in this chrysalis, turning into a butterfly through a process called metamorphosis. This stage typically lasts around 10 to 14 days.
Adult Butterfly Stage: Once the metamorphosis is complete, the adult monarch butterfly emerges from the chrysalis. At this stage, they have vibrant orange wings with black veins and white spots. Monarchs feed primarily on nectar from various flowers, helping with pollination as they travel from one flower to another. They also rely on the sun's warmth to maintain their body temperature, especially during cooler weather.
Migration: In North America, monarchs embark on a huge journey southward to reach their overwintering grounds in Mexico. These migrations often involve multiple generations of butterflies, with each generation continuing the journey down south.
Fun Facts
In 2009, monarch butterflies were part of an experiment that involved taking them to the International Space Station to study how microgravity affects their development.
During their larval stage, monarchs eat poisonous milkweed which is then stored in their bodies. The poison causes their predators to vomit, but rarely results in death. The monarch's bright wings act as a warning sign to their predators, indicating that they taste bad and will make them sick.
The wings of a monarch butterfly flap about 5-12 times per second, which is about 300-720 times a minute.
Male monarch butterflies can be distinguished from females by examining their wings. Males have thinner black veins and two black spots on their wings.
Why Monitor Monarch Butterflies?
Nowadays, it is more important than ever to monitor monarch butterflies. The population of monarch butterflies is dropping, along with that of other pollinator populations, which in turn impacts human food systems. By monitoring these insects, we can better understand their populations, behaviors, and habitat needs. This information helps conservationists implement targeted efforts to protect monarch butterflies and their habitats.
References
Wikimedia Foundation. (2024, May 20). Monarch butterfly. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monarch_butterfly
Criss, D. (2019, January 7). The monarch butterfly population in California has plummeted 86% in one year. CNN. https://www.cnn.com/2019/01/07/us/monarch-butterflies-decline-trnd/index.html
G, L. (2024, March 21). Releasing my first monarch butterfly. GlaszArt. https://glaszart.com/releasing-my-first-monarch-butterfly/
Hannemann, E. (2023, January 31). 11 fascinating monarch butterfly facts. Birds and Blooms. https://www.birdsandblooms.com/gardening/attracting-butterflies/monarch-butterfly-facts/
Monarch butterfly garden project. Lisle Library District. (n.d.-b). https://www.lislelibrary.org/frontstreetteens/monarch-butterfly-garden-project
Monarch butterfly. Animals. (n.d.). https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/animals/invertebrates/facts/monarch-butterfly
Monarch butterfly. National Wildlife Federation. (n.d.). https://www.nwf.org/Educational-Resources/Wildlife-Guide/Invertebrates/Monarch-Butterfly#:~:text=The%20large%20and%20brilliantly%2Dcolored,(7%20to%2010%20centimeters)
Monarch Importance. Monarch Joint Venture. (n.d.). https://monarchjointventure.org/faq/monarch-importance#:~:text=Because%20they%20are%20so%20well,turn%20impacts%20human%20food%20systems
Of monarch eggs, ladybug eggs and Oleander Aphids. ANR Blogs. (n.d.). https://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=43755
U.S. Forest Service. Forest Service Shield. (n.d.). https://www.fs.usda.gov/wildflowers/pollinators/Monarch_Butterfly/faqs.shtml#:~:text=The%20male%20and%20female%20also,to%208%20to%209%20months
How can you monitor Monarch Butterflies?
If you have milkweed, you can monitor the milkweed for monarch eggs and monarch caterpillars. When checking the milkweed, it is important to check under the leaves of the milkweed for potential monarch eggs. If you don't have milkweed, planting milkweed can be another good way to attract and monitor monarchs.
Planting nectar plants can also aid in attracting and monitoring monarchs. Although the monarch caterpillars feed on milkweed, the monarch butterflies feed on nectar. By planting nectar plants, you're giving monarch butterflies something to feed on which can attract more monarchs.
Another great way to monitor monarchs is simply by recording your sightings of monarch butterflies. This information can be useful for organizations monitoring monarch activity.