The Majestic Monarch Butterfly
The name “King of the insect world” is very apt for this magnificent butterfly. The Monarch Butterfly can do exceptional things even though it is a small creature. Its life cycle is a thing to behold: from a tiny egg to a caterpillar, transforming to a chrysalis, and finally into a beautiful butterfly.
They migrate, covering thousands of miles in search for new homes, breed along the way and travels back again to their place of origin. Below are some more amazing facts about monarch butterfly:
The Monarch Butterfly’s scientific name is Danaus plexippus. The term means “sleepy transformation” in Greek language and is inspired by the Greek myth of Danaus. In this story the daughters of Danaus, king of Libya, not wanting to marry their cousins leave Libya and go to Greece. The Monarch Butterflies long migration tell us of the daughters’ flight.
The Aztec believed the adult Monarch Butterflies to be the incarnation of their dead warriors.
Lepidopterists are people who study Monarch Butterflies.
The Monarch Butterfly is also called a milkweed butterfly and is cousin to all milkweed eating butterflies.
The Monarch Butterflies lives for about 8-9 months.
The Monarch Butterflies have a wingspan of 3 3/8 – 4 7/8 inches (8.6 – 12.4 cm).
The male Monarch butterfly has a dark spot (scent scales) and its claspers (reproductive organ) is situated at the end of its abdomen.
The beautiful orange color of the Monarch butterfly acts as a defense mechanism from predators, signaling that their intended meal might be toxic. Not all Monarchs are poisonous since not all milkweeds secretes cardiac glycosides.
Only two birds species namely: the Black Headed Grosbeak and the Black-Backed Orioles can eat the Monarch Butterfly.
The Monarch Butterfly breathes through its wings and female Monarchs have thicker wing veins.
Monarch butterflies have been seen flying as high as 1,000 feet in the air.
They like it better on highlands and do not travel at very high speeds.
The wings of the Monarch Butterflies have the tendency to wear out from time to time.
North American Monarchs and the Vietnamese Monarchs can be distinguish by its marking.
Monarch butterflies covers a distance of about 2,000 miles traveling from the Great Lakes to the Gulf of Mexico, and return to the north again in the spring. Its Mexican wintering place was only discovered in 1975.
Monarchs can fly as high as a kilometer or more and travel at a speed 5 to 30 miles an hour during migration and can fly a 1000km without stopping.
Monarch Butterflies fly can overheat in hot climates however; they use “thermals,” or warm air, allowing them to conserve energy and helps them glide as they migrate.
Monarch Butterflies crossbreed with only their own kind.
Monarch females can lay up to 500 eggs, usually laying a single egg on a plant. After about four days, the eggs will hatch.
As a caterpillar, the Monarch Butterfly eats milkweed but as it becomes an adult butterfly it feasts on nectar.
Monarch larvae have six pairs of eyes called ocelli but have very poor vision.
The larvae feed on the plant leaves for about two weeks and develop into caterpillars about 2 inches long.
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37 Responses to “The Majestic Monarch Butterfly”
On June 8, 2009 at 1:48 am
Interesting Article..!
On June 8, 2009 at 1:48 am
Fantasic papalang….great article and great pictures.
On June 8, 2009 at 2:06 am
Interesting article and good pictures.
Inna
On June 8, 2009 at 2:18 am
These butterflies are BEAUTIFUL….
On June 8, 2009 at 2:27 am
Some very interesting facts and beautiful pictures.
Christine
On June 8, 2009 at 6:09 am
Great information about a wonderful subject Papa
On June 8, 2009 at 6:27 am
Very nice and interesting piece of information about monarch butterflies.But it is sad to note that they have only a short life for only 8 or 9 months.Thanks.
On June 8, 2009 at 6:56 am
I love butterflies..Thanks for writing about them. I had no idea about all the facts re: Monarch butterflies..- Good write – fan/friend – Princess
On June 8, 2009 at 8:04 am
Interesting with great pics.
On June 8, 2009 at 8:24 am
Excellent!!..This is really wonderful article with very beautiful butterflies pics insight..I really enjoyed it..Thanx for sharing..LOv monarch butterflies too.
On June 8, 2009 at 8:35 am
Great info about a beautiful creature.
On June 8, 2009 at 9:19 am
Very intriging article, I loved it.
I also loved you McDonald Article, but Auth… would not allow me to post, something about a bad security.
Your writing has so much feelings, and you express it all very well
On June 8, 2009 at 9:27 am
Beautiful pix. Interesting facts too
On June 8, 2009 at 9:49 am
I love them on T-shirts!
On June 8, 2009 at 10:05 am
I love butterflies. The only thing wrong with this article is it was too short. You left me wanting more. Great Job!
D
On June 8, 2009 at 10:36 am
I have always held a fascination for the monarch butterfly..just gorgeous! In North America, the black swallow-wort plant is toxic to the caterpillars once the eggs have hatched..not a good host plant.
On June 8, 2009 at 10:44 am
Amazing butterflies.
On June 8, 2009 at 11:21 am
It seems Butterfly are attracted to my TickleMe Plants I just started growing from seeds. The TickleMe Plant is the REAL Plant that MOVES when you Tickle It! The leaves instantly close and even the branches droop when Tickled. I found a coupon code Holiday that takes $2.00 off at http://www.ticklemeplant.com I think my Dad will love it for Father’s day
On June 8, 2009 at 1:06 pm
this is a beautiful write,I happen to love butterflies..their beauty is a gift in itself..thanks for the share…stay blessed,,Rich
On June 8, 2009 at 1:24 pm
Very interesting! I am fascinated with these beautiful little creatures that grace our world. Great pictures.
On June 8, 2009 at 6:18 pm
Where I live, I don’t remember the last time I saw a butterfly. They were very popular when I lived down in the bay area and you would see them every where.
On June 8, 2009 at 7:55 pm
Another amazing article,
and thats a beautiful butterfly,
Thanks for sharing!
On June 8, 2009 at 8:18 pm
An interesting article, and beautiful pics.
On June 8, 2009 at 11:48 pm
wonderful
On June 9, 2009 at 12:32 am
absolutely interesting article
On June 9, 2009 at 1:30 am
Very lovely and educational too. Well done.
On June 9, 2009 at 12:46 pm
I loved it. The pictures really made the article.
On June 9, 2009 at 4:52 pm
They are lovely creatures indeed!
On June 10, 2009 at 4:30 am
adorable butterfly
On June 10, 2009 at 7:46 am
Wow..i think i already see this kind butterfly however i am not that sure, well thanks for your article i love it,
On June 10, 2009 at 1:48 pm
We have monarchs here in Flower Paradise. Only, they can’t tell the difference between the flowers on Land Forme Shaymin and regular flowers.
On June 10, 2009 at 3:07 pm
This is one of my favourite insects. Kudos for the research, papal. Thanks for sharing.
On June 10, 2009 at 3:09 pm
Hi, Papal. This is a well-researched article with some nice photos. Thanks for this. I liked it. There are a couple sentence errors, but the piece is good reading. We even see monarchs here in Nova Scotia, once in a while.
On June 10, 2009 at 3:14 pm
Wondeful article, I sent it to Reddit and Digg.
On June 10, 2009 at 5:15 pm
Excellent information & photos!
On June 11, 2009 at 3:32 am
excellent and interesting – the pictures tell their own story
On June 11, 2009 at 11:12 pm
Well done on this great research. Thanks for sharing these great points with us.
Monica.
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