Majestic Monarch

Happy Memorial Day Weekend

One of These Things is not Like the Other!

At first glance this may appear to be two pictures of monarch butterflies. However these are actually pictures of two different butterfly species. In fact these two species are not even in the same genus. The photo above is of a viceroy butterfly, Genus Lemenitis, while the one below is a monarch, Genus Danaus.

Besides the fact that they look similar these two butterflies have very little in common. Both are members of the Nymphalidae , or brushfoot, family, but many species are brushfoot butterflies. The monarch butterfly is what is commonly referred to as a milkweed butterfly. These are species that eat milkweed during their larval stage making them toxic to many predators. Some people believe that the viceroy may be avoided by predators because of its resemblance to the monarch. However it has been proven that the viceroy may itself possess acids that make them taste bitter, which helps keep them from being eaten. Perhaps they are both orange as a warning to anything that is hungry and does not know any better.  

Monarch Butterfly

 The monarch is one of the most recognized butterflies in North America. It is found through out most of the continent. The monarch is a brushfoot butterfly (Family Nymphalidae) that is further classified into the subfamily Danainae. Members of the Danainae subfamily are often called milkweed butterflies because their larval host plants are various forms of milkweed. All of the milkweed butterflies in North America are primarily orange and black in color and toxic to most predators. This toxicity comes from the juices of the milkweed plants that the caterpillars eat. Adults feed on nectar from blooming flowers. This monarch is on prairie blooming star which is a favorite of many different species of butterfly in the late summer. In the fall many monarchs migrate south either to southern California, those living in western North America, or the mountains of central Mexico, those living in east and central North America.

Monarch Butterfly

The monarch is the state butterfly of Minnesota. It is perhaps the most well known butterfly in North America. The monarch is a member of the Danainae subfamily. Danaine are butterflies that larva, caterpillar, eat milkweed. The milkweed that the caterpillar eats makes them toxic to many would be predators. The monarch is one of the few butterflies that migrate south for the winter. In the fall they migrate in large numbers to southern California or central Mexico. During the winter large groups of monarchs perch in trees in a sort of suspended animation. Come February and March they awaken, mate, lay eggs and then die. The generation that hatches will move north where they will lay their eggs and begin the process again. Because of their migration monarchs are occasionally found in Europe, Asia, and Australia.

Minnesota State Butterfly

 In 1998 Minnesota chose the monarch to represent it as the state butterfly. Although monarchs are very common to Minnesota and very beautiful I am not sure that it is the best choice to represent Minnesota and its population.First off as a larva, or caterpillar, the monarch eats only milkweed. The monarch above is perched on butterfly weed which is a type of milkweed plant. The liquids inside the milkweed are toxic to many creatures so as the monarch caterpillar eats the milkweed it too becomes toxic. This is a great defense mechanism to keep predators away but as a representative of Minnesota what does it say about the state. Second the monarch is one of the few butterflies that migrate south for the winter. While we do have a population of snowbirds here in Minnesota most of us can not afford to spend the winter on the southern California coast or in the mountains of central Mexico, like the monarchs do. Most of us have to stick around Minnesota during the winter and do our best to survive. There are several species of butterflies, like the mourning cloak or eastern comma, that over winter in Minnesota as an adult butterfly. Perhaps they might have been a better choice but I am sure that the legislators that chose the monarch as the state butterfly did not put as much thought into it as I am. 

Monarch on Butterfly Weed

 Butterfly weed ( Asclepias tuberosa ) is a great plant for attracting butterflies. It's bright orange blossoms are excellent at producing nectar that draw in many species of butterflies. It is even more important for the monarch. Since butterfly weed is a member of the milkweed family it is also a host plant for the monarch caterpillar. So this plant can provide food to all stages of a monarchs life that require food.

Monarch Butterfly

Monarch Butterfly

This second birthday celebration pic is featured on the month of July of the Ecobirder 2012 Calendar. It is the only insect pic in the calendar. Michelle does not care much for dragonflies, spiders or most other insects so she does not let me include them in the calendar, but butterflies are the exception. This photo was taken at Crex Meadows. In case you missed today's earlier post today is the 5th anniversary of the blog and we are celebrating through out the week.

Monarch

Monarch

Monarch

Monarch

One of the most commonly recognized butterflies in North America is the monarch. The monarch is found through out most of North America except for the far north.

The monarch is a member of the brushfoot family. There are around 5000 different species of brushfoots in the world with over 200 of them living in North America. The brushfoot family got its name because their front legs are shortened and covered with hair giving them the appearance of a small brush.

Monarchs larvae, or caterpillars, only eat plants from the milkweed family, particularly common milkweed. Ingesting the toxic sap from the milkweed makes both larvae and butterfly unpalatable to many predators, an exception to this is the dragonhunter dragonfly.

Here in the north monarchs typically have two broods per year. The second brood will migrate south in the fall down into the mountains of central Mexico, monarchs on the west coast usually migrate to southern California. When they reach their destination they will hibernate in mass groups until spring when they will awaken and mate and die. Eventually their offspring will make it back north.

-

Monarch Madness

Monarch

Monarch