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 actually two types of subspecies in the Monarch butterfly family. The main difference between the two is that one subspecies, the Danaus p. plexippus, migrates and the other subspecies, the Danaus p. megalippe, does not. Migratory monarchs are generally found in North America, because of the climate changes and non-migratory monarchs are found in hot climates around the equator.
Migratory monarchs tend to start their travel during the beginning of August. Then they return home, to the North, in the springtime. Monarchs have an unusually long migration as it takes them a while to travel, sue to their size. Their migration is considered long when in comparison with their life span.
Unlike most of the world's insects the monarchs are one of very few that can migrate across the Atlantic Ocean. They have been sited in Great Britain, New Zealand and Hawaii. Australia also has a population of monarchs, both migratory and non-migratory.
Monarch butterflies store milkweed poison when they are caterpillars and are hence poisonous when in butterfly form. The bright orange color of their wings is supposed to be a warning sign. Due to this survival mechanism the viceroy butterfly has adapted to look like the Monarch, but it is not poisonous.
If you want to attract Monarchs to your garden you will need to have nectar bearing plants and host plants available. Milkweed plants are favored by the monarch to lay their eggs as well as a food source for the caterpillars when they are born. Monarchs at one point were becoming endangered due to deforestation. Today there are laws in place to protect the Monarchs wintering grounds.
Monarchs actually care for their children/caterpillars until they turn into a butterfly. It takes about 9 months, or a wintering period, for the caterpillar to develop and be born. Once the child is about 13 it will get its first pair of wings and go out into the unknown world. Most monarchs tend to form their own cocoon away from their parents.
Despite being poisonous monarchs due have some natural predators. Brown Thrushes, Robins, Sparrows, Pinyon Jays, Scrub Jays, Cardinals, and Grackles can all tolerate the level of poison in the Monarch. The Asian ladybug eats the eggs and larvae. - 16492
There are actually two types of subspecies in the Monarch butterfly family. The main difference between the two is that one subspecies, the Danaus p. plexippus, migrates and the other subspecies, the Danaus p. megalippe, does not. Migratory monarchs are generally found in North America, because of the climate changes and non-migratory monarchs are found in hot climates around the equator.
Migratory monarchs tend to start their travel during the beginning of August. Then they return home, to the North, in the springtime. Monarchs have an unusually long migration as it takes them a while to travel, sue to their size. Their migration is considered long when in comparison with their life span.
Unlike most of the world's insects the monarchs are one of very few that can migrate across the Atlantic Ocean. They have been sited in Great Britain, New Zealand and Hawaii. Australia also has a population of monarchs, both migratory and non-migratory.
Monarch butterflies store milkweed poison when they are caterpillars and are hence poisonous when in butterfly form. The bright orange color of their wings is supposed to be a warning sign. Due to this survival mechanism the viceroy butterfly has adapted to look like the Monarch, but it is not poisonous.
If you want to attract Monarchs to your garden you will need to have nectar bearing plants and host plants available. Milkweed plants are favored by the monarch to lay their eggs as well as a food source for the caterpillars when they are born. Monarchs at one point were becoming endangered due to deforestation. Today there are laws in place to protect the Monarchs wintering grounds.
Monarchs actually care for their children/caterpillars until they turn into a butterfly. It takes about 9 months, or a wintering period, for the caterpillar to develop and be born. Once the child is about 13 it will get its first pair of wings and go out into the unknown world. Most monarchs tend to form their own cocoon away from their parents.
Despite being poisonous monarchs due have some natural predators. Brown Thrushes, Robins, Sparrows, Pinyon Jays, Scrub Jays, Cardinals, and Grackles can all tolerate the level of poison in the Monarch. The Asian ladybug eats the eggs and larvae. - 16492
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It's not difficult to have a beautiful garden that attracts butterflies! Visit http://www.homebutterflygarden.com to learn how to makeas well as learn more about different types of butterflies such as the monarch butterfly.
