Monarch (butterfly)

The Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) is a

milkweed butterfly (subfamily Danainae), in the family
Nymphalidae. It is perhaps the best known of all North
American butterflies. Since the !th century, it has
been found in New "ealand, and in Australia since
#$ where it is called the Wanderer. It is resident in
the %anary Islands, the A&ores, and 'adeira, and is
found as an occasional mi(rant in )estern *urope and a rare mi(rant in the +nited ,in(dom
where it is called the 'ilkweed. Its win(s feature an easily reco(ni&able oran(e and black
pattern, with a win(span of #.!-../ centimetres (01-2 in). (The 3iceroy butterfly has a similar
si&e, colour, and pattern, but can be distin(uished by an e4tra black stripe across the hind win(.)
5emale 'onarchs ha6e darker 6eins on their win(s, and the males ha6e a spot called the
7androconium7 in the centre of each hind win( from which pheromones are released. 'ales are
also sli(htly lar(er.
The 'onarch is famous for its southward mi(ration and northward return in summer from
%anada to 'e4ico and 8a9a %alifornia which spans the life of three to four (enerations of the
butterfly.
The common name :'onarch; was first published in #$2 by Samuel H. Scudder because :it is
one of the lar(est of our butterflies, and rules a 6ast domain;< howe6er, the name may be in
honour of King William III of England.
Description
The upper side of the win(s is tawny=oran(e, the 6eins and mar(ins are black, and in the mar(ins
are two series of small white spots. The fore win(s also ha6e a few oran(e spots near the tip. The
underside is similar but the tip of the fore win( and hind win( are yellow=brown instead of

tawny=oran(e and the white spots are lar(er. The male has a black patch of androconial scales
responsible for dispersin( pheromones on the hind win(s, and the black 6eins on its win( are
narrower than the female>s. The male is also sli(htly lar(er.
?ike all insects the 'onarch has si4 le(s, howe6er it uses only four of its le(s as it carries its two
front le(s a(ainst its body.
The e((s are creamy white and later turn pale yellow. They are elon(ate and subconical, with
appro4imately /0 lon(itudinal rid(es and many fine tra6erse lines. A sin(le e(( wei(hs about
..2@ milli(rams, and measures about ./ millimetres hi(h and ..! millimetres wide.
The caterpillar is banded with yellow, black, and white stripes. The head is also striped with
yellow and black. There are two pairs of black filaments, one pair on each end of the body. The
caterpillar will reach a len(th of A cm.
The chrysalis is blue=(reen with a band of black and (old on the end of the abdomen. There are
other (old spots on the thora4, the win( bases, and the eyes.
Migration
'onarchs are especially noted for their len(thy annual mi(ration. In North America they make
massi6e southward mi(rations startin( in Au(ust until the first frost. A northward mi(ration takes
place in the sprin(. The monarch is the only butterfly that mi(rates both north and south as the
birds do on a re(ular basis. 8ut no sin(le indi6idual makes the entire round trip. 5emale
monarchs deposit e((s for the ne4t (eneration durin( these mi(rations. 8y the end of Bctober,
the population east of the Cocky 'ountains mi(rates to the sanctuaries of the 'ariposa 'onarca
8iosphere Ceser6e within the Trans='e4ican 3olcanic 8elt pine=oak forests in the 'e4ican
states of 'ichoacDn and 'E4ico. The western population o6erwinters in 6arious sites in central
coastal and southern
%alifornia, +nited States,
notably in Facific Gro6e and
Santa %ru&. The len(th of
these 9ourneys e4ceeds the
normal lifespan of most
monarchs, which is less than
two months for butterflies
born in early summer. The last
(eneration of the summer
enters into a non=reproducti6e
phase known as diapauses and
may li6e se6en months or
more.

Durin( diapauses,
butterflies fly to one of many
o6er winterin( sites. The
(eneration that o6er winters (enerally does not reproduce until it lea6es the o6er winterin( site
sometime in 5ebruary and 'arch.
It is thou(ht that the o6er winter population of those east of the Cockies may reach as far north as
Te4as and Bklahoma durin( the sprin( mi(ration. It is the second, third and fourth (enerations
that return to their northern locations in the +nited States and %anada in the sprin(. How the
species mana(es to return to the same o6er winterin( spots o6er a (ap of se6eral (enerations is
still a sub9ect of research< the fli(ht patterns appear to be inherited, based on a combination of
the position of the sun in the sky

and a time=compensated Sun compass that depends upon a
circadian clock that is based in their antennae. New research has also shown that 'onarch
butterflies can use the earthIs ma(netic field for orientation. The antennae contain crypto chrome
/
a photoreceptor protein that is sensiti6e to the 6iolet=blue part of the spectrum. In the presence of
6iolet or blue li(ht it can function as a chemical compass, which tells the animal if it is ali(ned
with the earths ma(netic field, but it is unable to tell the difference between the ma(netic North
or South. The complete ma(netical sense is present in a sin(le antenna.
'onarch butterflies are one of the few insects capable of makin( trans=Atlantic crossin(s. They
are becomin( more common in 8ermuda due to increased usa(e of milkweed as an ornamental
plant in flower (ardens. 'onarch butterflies born in 8ermuda remain year round due to the
islandIs mild climate. A few monarchs turn up in the far southwest of Great 8ritain in years when
the wind conditions are ri(ht, and ha6e been si(hted as far east as ?on( 8ennin(ton. In Australia,
'onarchs make limited mi(rations in cooler areas,

but the 8lue Ti(er butterfly is better known in
Australia for its len(thy mi(ration.

'onarchs can also be found in New "ealand. Bn the islands
of Hawaii no mi(rations ha6e been noted.
'onarch butterflies are poisonous or distasteful to birds and mammals because of the presence
of cardiac (lycosides that are contained in milkweed consumed by the lar6a. It is thou(ht that the
bri(ht colours of lar6ae and adults function as warnin( colours. Durin( hibernation monarch
butterflies sometimes suffer losses because hun(ry birds pick throu(h them lookin( for the
butterflies with the least amount of poison, but in the process killin( those that they re9ect.
A recent study e4amined win( colours of mi(ratin( monarchs usin( computer ima(e analysis
and found mi(rants had darker oran(e (reddish colored) win(s
than breedin( monarchs.
Reproduction
The matin( period for the o6er winter population occurs in the
sprin(, 9ust prior to mi(ration from the o6er winterin( sites. The
courtship is fairly simple and less dependent on chemical
pheromones in comparison with other species in its (enus.
%ourtship is composed of two distinct sta(es, the aerial phase
and the (round phase. Durin( the aerial phase, the male pursues,
nud(es, and e6entually takes down the female. %opulation occurs
durin( the (round phase where the male and female remain
attached for about 0. to @. minutes.
A spermatophore is transferred from the male to the female. Alon( with sperm, the
spermatophore is thou(ht to pro6ide the female with ener(y resources that aid her in carryin( out
reproduction and remi(ration. The o6er winter population returns only as far north as they need
to (o to find the early milkweed (rowth< in the case of the eastern butterflies that is commonly
southern Te4as. The life cycle of a monarch includes a chan(e of form called complete
metamorphosis.
The monarch (oes throu(h four radically different sta(esJ
. The e((s are laid by the females durin( sprin( and summer breedin( months. The e((s
are laid onto the lea6es of milkweed plants.(see Appendix 1)
/. The e((s hatch (after 2 days)(Appendix 2,), re6ealin( worm=like lar6ae, the caterpillars.
The caterpillars consume their e(( cases, then feed on milkweed (Appendix !), and
seKuester substances called cardenolides, a type of cardiac (lycoside. Durin( the
caterpillar sta(e, monarchs store ener(y in the form of fat and nutrients to carry them
throu(h the non=feedin( pupa sta(e. The caterpillar sta(e lasts around / weeks.
(Appendix ")
0
0. In the pupa or chrysalis sta(e, the caterpillar spins a silk pad on a twi(, leaf, etc., and
han(s from this pad by its last pair of prole(s. (Appendix ") It han(s upside down in the
shape of a ILI(Appendix #), and then molts, lea6in( itself encased in an articulated (reen
e4oskeleton(Appendix $). At this point, hormonal chan(es occur, leadin( to the
de6elopment of a butterfly (metamorphosis). The chrysalis darkens (the e4oskeleton
becomes transparent) (Appendix %) a day before it emer(es, and its oran(e and black
win(s can be seen. (Appendix &)
2. The mature butterfly emer(es after about two pupal weeks and han(s from the split
chrysalis for se6eral hours until its win(s are dry (often in the mornin(). 'eanwhile
fluids are pumped into the crinkled win(s until they become full and stiff. Some of this
oran(ey fluid (called meconium) drips from the win(s. 5inally (usually in the afternoon)
the monarch spreads its win(s, Kui6ers them to be sure they are stiff, and then flies away,
to feed on a 6ariety of flowers, includin( milkweed flowers, red clo6er, and (oldenrod.
'onarchs can li6e a life of two to ei(ht weeks in a (arden ha6in( their host Asclepias plants and
sufficient flowers for nectar. This is especially true if the flower (arden happens to be surrounded
by nati6e forest that seems to be lackin( in flowers.
Defence against predators
'onarchs are foul=tastin( and poisonous due to the presence of cardenolide a(lycones in their
bodies, which the caterpillars in(est as they feed on milkweed. 8oth forms ad6ertise their
unpalatability with bri(ht colours and areas of hi(h contrast on the skin or win(s. This
phenomenon is known as aposematism.
'onarchs also contain cardiac (lycosides in their bodies from the Asclepias plants that the
caterpillars eat. B6er winterin( 'onarchs in 'e4ico are often preyed upon by 8lack=headed
Grosbeaks which are immune to that to4in. Bther birds such as orioles and 9ays ha6e learned to
eat only the thoracic muscles and abdominal contents because these contain less poison than the
rest of the body.
M!N
Some mice are also able to withstand lar(e doses of the poison. B6er time,
o6er winterin( adults become less poisonous, thus makin( them more 6ulnerable to predators. In
'e4ico, about 2O of the o6er winterin( 'onarchs are eaten by birds and mice.
M/#N
'onarchs share this defence with the similar=appearin( 6iceroy butterfly, in an e4ample of
'Pllerian mimicry. (3iceroys were at one time belie6ed to be 8atesian mimics of monarchs).
Relationship with humans
The monarch is the state insect of Alabama,

Idaho, Illinois, 'innesota, Te4as, and the state
butterfly of 3ermont and )est 3ir(inia. It was nominated in !!. as the national insect of the
+nited States of America, alon( with the honeybee (Apis mellifera), but the le(islation did not
pass.
'any people like to attract monarchs by (rowin( a butterfly (arden with a specific milkweed
species. Bthers en9oy raisin( them for pleasure or for educational purposes. 5or mi(ratin( flocks,
sanctuaries ha6e been created at fa6ourite winterin( locations, and these mi(rations can (enerate
si(nificant tourism re6enue.
'any schools also en9oy (rowin(, and attendin( to monarch butterflies, startin( with the
caterpillar form. )hen the butterflies reach adulthood they are then released into the wild.
Some or(ani&ations, such as the %ape 'ay 8ird Bbser6atory, ha6e monarch identification
2
ta((in( pro(rams. Flastic stickers are placed on the win( of the insect with identification
information. Trackin( information is used to study the mi(ration patterns of monarchs, includin(
how far and where they fly.
The main 6illain on 'he (enture )ros. (a cartoon on the Adult Swim block of %artoon Network)
takes his name, costume and o6erall lifestyle from monarch butterflies.
Threats
Althou(h monarchs feed on milkweed,
6ariations in the Kuantity of cardiac
(lycosides e4ist between species, indi6iduals
and e6en parts of the host plant. The le6els
of to4ins in adult monarchs reflect the le6els
in their host plants. This means some
monarchs are not foul=tastin( but are
8atesian or auto=mimics. Some species of
predators ha6e learned to measure the to4ins
by taste and re9ect butterflies with hi(h
cardiac (lycosides contents, eatin( only the ones with low cardiac (lycosides contents. In the
butterfly, the cardiac (lycosides are concentrated in the abdomen and win(s. Some species of
predators differentiate these parts and consume only the most palatable ones. 8ird predators
include 8rown Thrashers, Grackles, Cobins, %ardinals, Sparrows, Scrub Lays and Finyon Lays.
In North America, e((s and first instar lar6ae of the monarch are eaten by lar6ae and adults of
the introduced Asian lady beetle (Harmonia axyridis).
Bn Bahu, a white morph of the monarch has emer(ed. This is because of the introduction, in
!@A and !@@, of two bulbul species, *ycnonotus cafer and *ycnonotus +ocosus. They are now
the most common insecti6ore birds, and probably the only ones preyin( on insects as bi( as the
monarch. 'onarchs in Hawaii are known to ha6e low cardiac (lycoside le6els, but the birds may
also be tolerant for the chemical. The two species hunt the lar6ae and some pupae from the
branches and underside of lea6es in milkweed bushes. The bulbuls also eat restin( and
o6ipositin( adults, but rarely flyin( ones. 8ecause of its colour the white morph has a hi(her
sur6i6al rate than the oran(e one. This is either because of apostatic selection (i.e. the birds ha6e
learned the oran(e monarchs can be eaten), because of camoufla(e (the white morph matches the
white pubescence of milkweed or the patches of li(ht shinin( throu(h folia(e), or because the
white morph does not fit the birdIs search ima(e of a typical monarch, and is thus a6oided.
Do you know that: the 'onarch butterfly is famous for its ability to tra6el up to
/,... miles from North America to central 'e4ico e6ery fallQ Now, itIs en9oyin( fame of a
different sort. In the No6ember /0rd issue of ,ell, researchers report the full (enomic seKuence
of this iconic butterfly. The new (enome is the first for any butterfly. It is also the first complete
(enome of any lon(=distance mi(rant.
7)ith this (enome seKuence in hand, we now ha6e an o6erwhelmin( number of opportunities to
understand the (enetic and molecular basis of lon(=distance mi(ration,7 says Ste6en Ceppert of
the +ni6ersity of 'assachusetts 'edical School.
CeppertIs team has been studyin( the monarch mi(ration for years, with a particular interest in
how their brains incorporate information in time and space to find their way. 'onarchs are all
A
the more remarkable (i6en that mi(ratin( butterflies are always at least two (enerations remo6ed
from those that made the 9ourney the pre6ious fall. 7It is in their (enes,7 Ceppert said.
The researchers focused their (enome analysis on pathways known to be critical for this
mi(ration, includin( those responsible for 6ision, the circadian clock, and oriented fli(ht. The
(enome also re6ealed the complete set of (enes reKuired for synthesi&in( 9u6enile hormone.
%han(es in that hormone are reKuired for mi(ratin( butterflies to shut down reproduction and
e4tend their lifespan up to nine months. 8y comparison, non=mi(rants only li6e for about a
month.
%omparisons of the new monarch (enome with other insect (enomes also re6eal that butterflies
and moths (?epidoptera) are the fastest e6ol6in( insect order yet e4amined.
7B6erall,7 the researchers write, 7the attributes of the monarch (enome and its proteome pro6ide
a treasure tro6e for furtherin( our understandin( of monarch butterfly mi(ration< a solid
back(round for population (enetic analyses between mi(ratory and non=mi(ratory populations<
and a basis for future (enetic comparison of the (enes in6ol6ed in na6i(ation yet to be
disco6ered in other lon(=distance mi(ratin( species, includin( 6ertebrates like mi(ratory birds.7
KU Monarch Caterpillars to Voyage on Space Shuttle to
International Space Station
RC!IV"# $ednesday% &o'em(er ))% *++,#
$hen the space shuttle tlantis (lasts off &o'- ).% three monarch caterpillars from the
Uni'ersity of Kansas will (e on (oard for the trip to the International Space Station-

?awrence, ,S = The trio will be the first of their species in space.
'onarch )atch R a ,+=based network of students, teachers, 6olunteers and researchers
dedicated to study of the monarch butterfly R is pro6idin( the caterpillars to NASA, alon( with
a special artificial diet. If all (oes accordin( to plan, the insects will eat, (row and (o throu(h
metamorphosis to emer(e as adult butterflies in $ days while in low *arth orbit.
:)e>re (oin( to try to learn as much as we can about this insect and how it functions in space,;
said %hip Taylor, director of 'onarch )atch and professor of ecolo(y and e6olutionary biolo(y.
:This is an insect that seems to use (ra6ity a lot. It has orientation features that indicate that
(ra6ity is 6ery important for it. 8ut, how will they function in an en6ironment where it is
difficult to tell up from downQ;
Ste6e Hawley, ,+ professor of physics and astronomy and 6eteran of fi6e space shuttle missions
as a former NASA astronaut, e4plained the 6alue of determinin( how different or(anisms fare in
space.
:The more we learn about how physiolo(y works in space R whether it>s human physiolo(y or
insect physiolo(y or plant physiolo(y R the more we>ll be able to use that information on the
@
(round to understand fundamentally how biolo(ical systems work,; Hawley said. :It>s e4citin(
that ,+ is in6ol6ed in the International Space Station and human spacefli(ht.;
'onarch )atch is participatin( in the butterfly e4periment at the in6itation of 8io Ser6e Space
Technolo(ies, a centre within the +ni6ersity of %olorado in 8oulder.
:8io Ser6e approached us last April and said, S)e>re tryin( to (et monarchs in space,> ; Taylor
recalled. :I said, SCeallyQ )ell, that>s wonderful. Tell me about what you>re tryin( to do.> And
they asked, SAre you (uys doin( anythin( with an artificial dietQ> And I said, STou called at the
ri(ht time, because we>re makin( (ood pro(ress with an artificial diet.> ;
:%hip has been a hu(e help we wouldn>t ha6e been able to do this without his input,; said
Stephanie %ountryman, business de6elopment mana(er with 8io Ser6e Space Technolo(ies. :In
the course of searchin( for the ri(ht artificial diet, we came across 'onarch )atch. %hip was
6ery e4cited to help out. )e already had the habitat and some strin(ent reKuirements for the
butterflies, but he>s been able to ad6ise us and (i6e us whate6er information we>6e needed to
ha6e these butterflies sur6i6e.;
The caterpillars ha6e been introduced to the artificial diet at 'onarch )atch on ,+>s west
campus in ?awrence and will be sent to 5lorida shortly before launch to be placed inside the
:'icro=Gra6ity 8utterfly Habitat; de6eloped by 8io Ser6e.
At the same time, 'onarch )atch will ship similar collections of butterfly caterpillars and
artificial diets to hundreds of elementary schools around the country so students can track
de6elopment of the monarchs in space and compare their (rowth to monarchs in the classroom.
:The students are (oin( to (et a (ood look at what normal lar6ae do, and that should help them
understand what>s (oin( on in the space capsule as well,; Taylor said. :They>re (oin( to be
placin( caterpillars in their capsules at the same time that the capsules are loaded up for the
space shuttle.;
)hen the shuttle blasts off, Taylor will be at ,ennedy Space %entre>s ?aunch Fad 0!A to watch
as his butterflies soar toward the space station. 'onarch )atch staff members Lim ?o6ett and
Ann Cyan will accompany him to 5lorida.
$
Appendix 1. 5emale monarch is deposin( e((s in sprin(.
Appendix 2. *((s after a
few days.
#
Appendix . An e(( on the
milkweed plant.
Appendix !. New=born caterpillar, eatin( leaf of
milkweed plant.
Appendix ". An adult caterpillar.
!
Appendix #. The
caterpillar is makin( the
pupa.

.

Appendix $. The pupa.

Appendix %. The chrysalis.

/
Appendi4 !. The process of metamorphosis.
0