Monarch butterflies are lepidopteran insects known for their ability to travel great distances, while flying to the same places where their ancestors migrated.
Among the lepidoptera insects from the nymphalid family, one of the most famous butterflies is the Monarch butterfly. She is not only amazingly beautiful, but also hardy.
This insect is especially widespread in the countries of North America, and during migratory flights it can be seen in the Canary Islands and the Bahamas, in Spain, Sweden and even Russia.
Monarch butterfly appearance
The color of the wings of this butterfly resembles a royal robe. Black stripes are set against a bright orange background, creating a catchy contrasting combination. A wide black border runs along the outer contour with white rounded spots scattered over it.
The transverse size of the wings of the Monarch butterfly when unfolded can reach 10 cm.
Butterfly food
The monarch feeds on the nectar and leaves of several plants, but the most favorite delicacy for her is cotton wool. Recently, it has become fashionable to grow this plant in gardens, city flower beds and front gardens of private houses due to its attractive appearance. It reaches an average height of 1.5-2.0 m. Its leaves and stems contain poisonous milky sap. It poses no threat to the Monarch butterfly, but is dangerous to animals that can eat the poisoned insect. All this favors the growth of the butterfly population.
Interesting Facts
Until now, it remains an unsolved mystery how this insect manages to cross the Atlantic Ocean in the process of migration in search of a place for wintering. And it is even more surprising that the butterfly migrates to the same area every year. When people noticed this curious fact, they designed the final destinations for the migration of butterflies to nature reserves.
Another fact that distinguishes this insect from others is the male courtship procedure for the female. Firstly, pheromones (special secretory substances that attract the opposite sex), produced by insects, are involved in this action.
Secondly, the courtship process consists of air and ground stages. During the air stage, the male, with soft, stroking movements of his wings, tries to carry away the female he likes to the ground. There, he gives her a bag of seminal fluid, which not only fertilizes the eggs of the butterfly, but also provides the female with an energy reserve, allowing her to survive the migration and, for sure, ensure the emergence of viable offspring.
The Monarch Butterfly is so loved by the people of America that it nominated for the title of National Insect of the United States. Then the honeybee became the winner, but this did not prevent the Monarch from becoming a symbol of such US states as Idaho, Minnesota, West Virginia, etc.
The Monarch butterfly of the enfilade family has an elegant appearance and has amazing, not fully understood properties that have yet to be solved.
The population of these insects is under the special attention of entomologists.
