Dec
10
The Monarch Butterfly
December 10, 2008 | Leave a Comment
The monarch butterfly is the most recognizable butterfly in the world, mainly due to its easily identifiable pattern and color on its wings. The monarch has a distinctive orange and black pattern on its wings. Male’s butterflies will have a central black spot on its hind wings as well as being a bit larger than female monarchs. Female monarchs will have darker veins on their veins, though his may be difficult to make out.
There are two sub-species of monarch butterflies. The Danaus p. plexippus is a migratory subspecies that generally populates North America. The other subspecies Danus p. megalippe is non-migratory and is found generally close to the equator in places like Florida, the Caribbean and Central America.
The start of the annual migration will commence sometime between the start of August and the years first frost. The monarch’s annual migration does tend to be long, specifically compared to the monarchs life span of about 2 months. Northward travel then tends to occur in the spring, when the temperature is noticeably warmer.
Monarch butterflies are almost unique in the insect world as they can survive transatlantic travel. When the wind conditions are correct Monarchs can even be found in Great Britain. Monarchs are also found in Hawaii and New Zealand.
Monarch butterflies do not have many predators because they are naturally poisonous. In caterpillar form they eat the milkweed leaves and store the poison from this plant. It is still stored in their body when they turn into a butterfly. The orange in their wings is a warning sign to animals that they are dangerous and may be hazardous to that animal’s health. The Viceroy butterfly resembles the Monarch but unlike the Monarch they are not poisonous.
Butterfly gardens are a popular way to attract butterflies to your yard. You can also grow and tend to your own monarch caterpillars. Once they have turned into a butterfly you can then release it into the wild. Milkweed plants are the Monarchs first choice for mating, and laying their eggs as the caterpillar eats the milkweed plant once it is hatched. Steps have been taken to protect monarch wintering habitats so they do not become endangered. Deforestation was a serious threat to monarchs at one point in time.
A brief overview of the Monarchs mating cycle is as follows. The female prepares herself for breeding and the breeding occurs. The baby Monarchs actually develop in the female for a period of nine months. The eggs are laid and the caterpillars emerge. Once the child is born it is cared for by its parents until if turns into a full butterfly, at about 13, in butterfly years. Once it gets its first pair of wings it ventures out on its own to form its own cocoon.
There are some natural predators to the Monarch, mainly birds, which can tolerate the Monarch’s poison. Grackles, Cardinals, Scrub Jays, Pinyon Jays, Sparrows, Robins, and Brown Thrushes can all eat Monarchs. Different species of Asian ladybugs will feast on monarch eggs and larva.
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