Butterflies have always attracted people with their bright colors. Currently, 200 thousand species of these insects are known. Among them, the monarch butterfly is especially famous.

Monarch butterfly (lat. Danaus plexippus) is a species of butterfly from the family Nymphalidae. One of the most famous butterflies in North America.

The Monarch Danaid is easily recognized by its characteristic pattern on its wings: black stripes on a rufous background. Along the edge of the wings there is a wide black border with white spots. The wingspan is 8.9-10.2 cm, weighs only 0.5 g.

The monarch caterpillar eats cottonweed leaves, which contain toxins and are its main food. It is thanks to them that in the future it turns out that the monarch butterfly is poisonous and is avoided as food by birds and other animals whose diet includes insects.

origin of name

The common name “monarch” was first used in 1874 by the American entomologist Samuel Scudder: “this butterfly is one of the largest, and rules over vast areas.” According to other sources, the name may have been given in honor of William III of Orange, Stadtholder of the Netherlands and King of England and Scotland.

The name of the genus Danaus probably comes from the names of characters in ancient Greek mythology: Danaë (the son of the Egyptian king) or his great-great-granddaughter Danaë.

Migration

Each fall, millions of these butterflies migrate south to California and Mexico from Canada for the winter, and return north to Canada in the summer. This is the only butterfly that regularly migrates from north to south, as birds do. But the most amazing thing is that not a single butterfly makes the entire journey. This happens because the life of a butterfly is short, and during the entire period of migration there are 3 to 4 generations of butterflies. Monarch butterflies are also one of the few insects that can cross the Atlantic. Before migrating, they gather in huge colonies on coniferous trees, and stick around them so that the trees turn orange and the branches sag under their weight. This amazing sight attracts many tourists.

The monarch migration usually begins in October each year, but can begin earlier if the weather turns cold. They travel a distance of 1,200 to 2,800 km, from Canada to the central Mexican forests, where the climate is warm. If the monarch lives in the eastern states, typically east of the Rocky Mountains, it will migrate to Mexico and winter in coniferous trees. If it lives west of the Rocky Mountains, it will winter in the Pacific Grove area of ​​California, in eucalyptus trees. It is surprising that the butterflies use the same trees for the winter every year, because they do not represent the same generation of butterflies that were there the previous year. How the butterflies were able to return to the same wintering grounds, with a gap of several generations, still remains a mystery to scientists. It is assumed that flight patterns are inherited. Some studies show that butterflies use the position of the sun in the sky and the Earth's magnetic field for orientation.

Why do monarch butterfly migrations occur?

It is believed that this type of insect appeared in the equatorial zone, located in the center of the American continent. It was initially based on sedentary populations of butterflies. After the end of the Ice Age and the increase in the number of individuals, the species' range began to expand towards the northern regions of America. But the climatic conditions in these parts were not suitable for the wintering of heat-loving butterflies, so the butterflies living there were forced to make long flights. For this purpose, a new life cycle was formed in the process of evolution. There is another point of view, according to which migrant individuals of the American subtropics settled in the tropics and in the equator region, and then spread throughout the planet.

For years, people have been puzzled as to where the millions of monarchs that spend the summer in Canada disappear to during the winter. It was not until 1937 that Canadian zoologist F. Urquhart began tracking the movements of butterflies, marking the wings of thousands of individuals. 38 years later, with the help of thousands of volunteers across the country, the scientist located the first wintering refuge of the butterflies on the top of Mount Michoacán in Mexico, several thousand kilometers from the starting point of their migration. The site is now a World Heritage Site and is known as the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve. There are dozens of such sites in Mexico, and they are protected by the Mexican government as ecological reserves.

Scientists have found that the reproduction of these insects requires the presence of special types of trees. That is why deforestation is prohibited in the biosphere reserve. The uniqueness of this conservation area was recognized by UNESCO, which included it among the Natural Heritage of Humanity.

Unfortunately, monarch wintering colonies are under threat due to widespread deforestation. Over the past few years, the number of monarch butterflies that have completed their migration in the Mexican forest has fallen to its lowest level in two decades. This was mainly due to extreme weather conditions and rapid expansion of agricultural land. According to the colony's annual census conducted in December 2012, the area of ​​forest occupied by butterflies has decreased from 50 hectares to 2.94 hectares.

Butterflies have always attracted people with their bright colors. Currently, 200 thousand species of these insects are known. Among them, the monarch butterfly is especially famous. According to scientists, she has a unique ability to navigate in space and fly exactly to a place located thousands of kilometers away, where she has never been before.

Description of the insect and life expectancy

The monarch butterfly weighs only 0.5 g and is 4 cm long. Each of the 4 wings of the insect consists of about 1.4 million cells that resemble small scales. Each of them is filled with air, which ensures the ease and smoothness of the butterfly's flight.

The color of the butterfly's wings is dark orange, with black veins and the same edges. In addition, on the front there are large orange spots and 2 rows of small white spots. There are similar ones on the rear wings.

The lifespan of this butterfly after emerging from the cocoon and becoming an adult is from 2 to 8 weeks in areas where the above-mentioned plants exist.

Reproduction

Mating of monarch butterflies occurs in hibernation areas before the seasonal migration begins. In spring or summer, the female lays creamy white or pale yellow eggs, irregularly conical, 1.2 mm long. After 4 days, a caterpillar appears, which eats cottonweed leaves, which contain toxins and are its main food. It is thanks to them that in the future it turns out that the monarch butterfly is poisonous and is avoided as food by birds and other animals whose diet includes insects.

But let's get back to the caterpillar. She wraps silk around a leaf or twig and hangs upside down on it. After this, the caterpillar molts, shedding its outer green shell. After 2 weeks, the adult emerges and hovers over the remains of the pupa to spread its wings. When they fill with liquid, the monarch butterfly goes in search of food: flowers of red clover, cottonmouth and goldenrod.

Habitat

The monarch butterfly is capable of making long journeys, so these insects can be found on almost all continents. The largest populations of this species are found in North America. In addition, these butterflies are found in Africa, Australia, as well as Sweden and Spain. Monarch butterflies also live in the southern regions of Russia, but quite rarely.

Lifestyle

These are exclusively heat-loving butterflies that can die as a result of cold weather or sudden temperature changes. They live in large flocks, and when such a group of insects stops mid-migration, such an invasion of monarch butterflies, or rather its consequences in the form of caterpillars, can cause great harm to agriculture. The threat looks all the more serious since these insects are not food for birds at any stage of their development, so there are no natural barriers to their reproduction.

Monarch Butterfly Migration

Insects of this species are known not only for their size and bright, beautiful coloring. They are also distinguished by their amazing ability to cover vast distances during seasonal migration. In particular, monarch danaids living in North America move southward starting in August. And, conversely, Australian butterflies of this species migrate to cooler regions of the country towards the end of the calendar summer. For Mexican monarchs, individuals east of the Rocky Mountains begin migrating into their world-famous Mariposa Monarca Sanctuary in Michoacán in October. Moreover, the monarch butterfly is one of the few insects that can fly across the Atlantic Ocean.

However, some populations of these insects do not migrate. In particular, individuals from Bermuda live there their entire lives, thanks to the exceptionally stable climate that facilitates the reproduction of these insects.

Why do monarch butterfly migrations occur?

It is believed that this type of insect appeared in the equatorial zone, located in the center of the American continent. It was initially based on sedentary populations of butterflies. After the end of the Ice Age and the increase in the number of individuals, the species' range began to expand towards the northern regions of America. But the climatic conditions in these parts were not suitable for the wintering of heat-loving butterflies, so the butterflies living there were forced to make long flights. For this purpose, a new life cycle was formed in the process of evolution.

There is another point of view, according to which migrant individuals of the American subtropics settled in the tropics and in the equator region, and then spread throughout the planet.

Reserve

As already mentioned, monarch butterflies are under special protection in Mexico. In particular, their own biosphere reserve was even created for them on the border of the states of Michoacán and Mexico City in a remote mountainous area in 2000.

It is one of Mexico's tourist attractions and every year in winter and spring thousands of tourists come there to see the unique spectacle of swarms of monarch butterflies fluttering freely among huge trees and hanging in clusters on their trunks. Since insect habitats are located at an altitude of 3000 m or more, it is quite difficult to get there. However, local tour companies offer excursions on foot, horseback and bicycles.

Scientists have found that the reproduction of these insects requires the presence of special types of trees. That is why deforestation is prohibited in the biosphere reserve.

The uniqueness of this conservation area was recognized by UNESCO, which included it among the Natural Heritage of Humanity.

Butterfly viceroy and monarch difference

Many people often confuse these two types of insects. And with good reason, since they are quite similar in appearance and size. However, upon closer examination, you will notice that the viceroy butterfly does not have the rufous spots on the edges of the upper wings that monarchs have and has symmetrical stripes of white spots parallel to the body.

It turns out that this similarity is not accidental and appeared as a result of natural selection. The fact is that for many generations, it was precisely those viceroy butterflies that survived that were similar to poisonous monarchs, since they were not pecked by birds.

Symbolism

Due to its truly regal appearance, the image of the monarch butterfly is widely used in heraldry. In particular, it is a symbol of several American states, and in 1990 an attempt was made to make it part of the heraldic symbols of this country.

Now you know how long the monarch butterfly lives, what it eats, and where it migrates.

Butterflies in nature

Butterfly migrations

Many European butterflies are born in the Mediterranean and then migrate north. Huge concentrations of thistles, meadow jaundices, cutworms and other species travel such distances. In the fall they die, leaving no offspring in new northern places. So, every year, myriads of butterflies fly in from warm regions to replace them.
Some species migrate seasonally: they fly to warmer regions in winter. Like birds, butterflies travel hundreds or even thousands of kilometers. They do not choose hot countries, but those where the temperature does not drop below zero. In such conditions, metabolism essentially stops, and butterflies live off the reserves accumulated in the body.

Such migrations are typical for thistles. The champion among migrants is rightfully considered the North American monarch butterfly, which moves from Canada to Central America. At the end of summer, these butterflies gather in flocks and head south, sometimes covering over 3000 km. They fly during the day at a speed of approximately 35 km/h, along strictly defined routes, and winter in some forest areas of Mexico and neighboring countries. Myriads of butterflies cling to tree branches that bend under their weight.
The climate in these places is ideal for monarchs - there is high humidity and there is no drought. The temperature is almost constant and the soil remains warm.

When migrating, insects are guided by an innate biological sense of time and direction. Daytime butterflies migrate in sunny weather, as they receive energy from the sun. In the morning they prefer to fly to the northwest, and in the afternoon - to the northeast.

Some moths migrate using the moon and stars as a guide. If the sky is covered with clouds, nocturnal butterflies orient themselves according to the Earth’s magnetic field, which seems to be inaccessible to daytime butterflies. The average speed of migrating daytime butterflies is 10 - 15 km/h. With a tailwind, they stay higher above the ground, and if there is a headwind or side wind, they stay lower.
The white florella (Catopsilia florella) is recognized as the champion in terms of flight range in Africa. Every year from December to February, tens of millions of these butterflies, having left the arid outskirts of the Sahara Desert, fly south to Zaire in flocks up to 20 km long and up to 5 km wide. After all, here, with the beginning of the rainy season, flowers bloom, the nectar of which they will feed on. And with the return of the dry season, the butterflies will fly back. Butterflies of the same species, living in southern Africa, make similar seasonal migrations, heading to the northwest.

Migrants from Mediterranean countries are some of the largest and most beautiful hawk moths in Russia: the “death’s head” and the oleander hawk moth. Some individuals fly to St. Petersburg, Petrozavodsk and even to the southern coasts of the Kola Peninsula. However, in the harsh climate of these northern regions they do not produce offspring.

Monarch butterflies are widely known for their migrations. Although no single butterfly has ever completed the entire 3,200-kilometer journey, several generations collectively cover that distance per year.


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1. In North America, these butterflies begin their grand annual journey in August.


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3. Monarchs "refuel" with nectar in the northern American states and Canada, after which it is time to hit the road, since the coming winter will inevitably lead to their death from the cold.


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5. Unlike their ancestors, these butterflies have not yet flown more than a few hundred meters in their lives, however, they do not hesitate to take flight over the wide northern lakes. This is only the first stage of one of the largest migrations in the world.


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9. Butterflies from areas east of the Rocky Mountains head to Mexico, and those from the west head to California, especially to the coniferous forests near Santa Cruz and Pacific Grove. This is where the incredible spectacle takes place.


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11. When the butterflies arrive at their destination, a lucky few people get to see countless monarchs hanging from every branch.


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13. Monarchs come here because, although there are frosts here, they are not as deadly to butterflies as in the north. Local conditions are ideal for wintering


14. While it is certainly safer to be in a crowd, hibernating butterflies are easy prey for predators, despite the fact that monarchs are poisonous. Some birds have learned to tear off the poisonous parts of butterflies and eat the rest. Every year, birds eat hundreds of thousands of butterflies and displace even more from their habitats, but this is unlikely to have the same impact on butterfly populations as, say, deforestation.


15. Those butterflies that have fallen from the branches must rise back as soon as possible - this is a matter of life and death. Their wings vibrate to warm their flight muscles and lift them up before they freeze on the ground. Those who managed to survive huddle in trees for four months. The warmth of spring will awaken them from hibernation.


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17. The lifespan of a monarch butterfly is tiny by our standards. Those born in early summer live only two months. For the generation that appeared at the end of summer and is about to spend the winter, nature has provided a special form of existence called diapause. Diapause is a non-reproductive phase of life, a physiological state of torpor during which the aging process slows down. It is this state of diapause that allows monarch butterflies to survive the winter.


18. Most butterflies survive and after four months they already drink their first nectar. As it gets warmer, more and more butterflies wake up and take to the air. Soon they will all go north, and their great-grandchildren will then return here again, sheltering from the northern winter.


19. Those monarch butterflies that survived the winter do not have long to live. However, before they fly too far, they will encounter plants suitable for breeding. There the butterflies will mate. The caterpillar and pupa stages last about two weeks, and now a new generation of monarchs is ready to continue their journey north.

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21. Then the new butterflies will lay eggs themselves. But this will not be the generation that returns to the coniferous forests of California and Mexico. Only the fourth generation of butterflies in this cycle will return there. Monarch butterflies have survived this way for thousands of years, and long may it continue!


22. Birth of a Butterfly


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Source Bigpicture.ru

The Monarch butterfly has the proud title of queen among all insects. Danaida -monarch is the full name of an insect that is of royal origin. According to one version, she acquired such an unusual name in honor of the Egyptian son Danae. The second version is more similar to the truth and says that the name of the butterfly was given by Samuel Scudder based on its large size. Since the 19th century, Monarch has been the official name of the butterfly.

Appearance and other features of monarch butterflies

The main feature of Monarch butterflies is their wings of extraordinary beauty. The main color of the wings is crimson red with dark veins; along the edge there is a white lace mesh with a black frame. On average, the weight of an adult can reach 6 grams, the wingspan varies from 9 to 11 cm. Females are smaller than males, but they have a richer wing color.

The monarch butterfly is poisonous. The poison enters the body along with the food it eats. Over time, the poison is not removed from the body, but only accumulates. But the monarch butterfly poses a threat only to small predators. For humans, the insect is completely harmless.

Birds of prey do not even touch monarch caterpillars, since they have a bright cocoon that warns of the poisonous nature of the insect. The female lays eggs on the surface of cottonweed leaves; the caterpillars subsequently feed on this plant. It is the juice of this plant that contains enzymes that contribute to the production of poison in the butterfly’s body.

Habitat

The monarch butterfly's primary habitat is North America. Among Americans, she acquired the status of a symbol of the United States. The monarch can be divided into 2 main categories:

• Migrating. (Danaus plexippus plexippus) This type can be found in Egypt, Africa and Australia.
• Non-migratory. (Danaus plexippus Megalippe) They live only in Central America, as they love a moderate, mild climate.

Monarch and Viceroy butterflies, what's the difference?

The similarity of these insects is amazing! Even birds of prey cannot distinguish between the monarch and the viceroy. In appearance, these insects have the following differences:

• unlike the viceroy, the monarch has red spots on the edges of the upper wings and a number of white spots;
• Along the black border of both wings there is a triple row of white dots. The Viceroy has a double one.

For insectivorous birds they also differ. These two insects have different tastes. Monarch caterpillars feed on plant leaves that contain toxic enzymes. This poison is not eliminated from the body, but rather accumulates in it over time. This is why monarch caterpillars are poisonous to birds.

King caterpillars are also brightly colored, but they are not poisonous; these insects use their color to deceive predators.

Monarch Butterfly Migration

The reason for migration of monarch butterflies is wintering. Every year, in the fall, more than 100 million individuals of this beautiful insect set off on a six-week flight to warm countries. They start their travels from the USA and move towards California, Mexico and the Bahamas. In order to reach a comfortable country for wintering, they are ready to travel more than 4000 kilometers.

The main reference points for butterflies are the Sun and the earth's magnetic field. Orientation occurs due to magnetoreception which occurs in their body.

For Monarchs, winter migration is part of the biological cycle. Since butterflies do not have a long life, the first generation may simply not complete the migration. It happens that during migration one generation can be replaced by another and complete the process that has begun. The question of how long a monarch butterfly lives is difficult to answer unambiguously; there are habitat and climatic conditions, and, of course, the presence of natural enemies. In general, under good circumstances, the monarch butterfly can live as an adult for about one year.

We wrote in more detail about how long butterflies live at home or in the wild.

Reproduction

An adult Danaid Monarch butterfly lays more than 100 pieces of light yellowish ribbed eggs. They don't look like they have a smooth conical shape. Their length exceeds 1 mm and their weight is only 0.5 mg. Already on the 4th day, caterpillars begin to emerge from the eggs. The caterpillar period lasts two weeks, and the main task of the future butterfly is to accumulate food reserves for the future stage of life. At first, their main food is the remains of the egg, after which they begin to feed on leaves, flowers and even the stem of the cottonweed. Caterpillars are no less poisonous than adults.

Before turning into a pupa, the caterpillar hangs on a branch and gradually begins to become covered with a shell - chitin. Over time, it hardens and the process of forming an adult Monarch begins in it. After being released from the shell, the butterfly can remain suspended for another couple of hours. During this time, her wings harden. When this happens, the insect takes off on its first flight.

The Monarch butterfly is rightfully considered one of the most beautiful representatives of its species.