Monarch Butterfly: a two-minute wildlife lesson

Busy Bugs · day 2 of 7

Five facts

1. As caterpillars and as butterflies, monarchs wear bold, contrasting colours that tell predators they taste bad and are poisonous.
2. Each fall, monarchs travel thousands of miles from Canada and the northern United States to winter in Mexico's oyamel fir forests.
3. Adult monarchs fly at only around 9 km/h, yet travel 1,200 to 2,800 miles or more to reach the mountain forests of central Mexico.
4. A single female can lay 300 to 500 eggs over two to five weeks, and some may reach 1,180 eggs in a lifetime.
5. Monarch eyes have a fourth type of colour cell. One study suggests it helps them sense polarized UV skylight and steer by the sun.

The quiz

1. What do a monarch's bright colors warn predators about?

• Its undesirable taste and poison (correct)
• Its sharp stinger
• Its loud call
• Its fast flight

Their bright colours warn predators that they taste bad and are poisonous.

2. Where do monarchs spend the winter?

• In Alaska's tundra
• In Texas deserts
• In Mexico's oyamel fir forests (correct)
• In Canada's pine forests

They winter in Mexico's oyamel fir forests.

3. How fast do adult monarchs fly?

• Around 40 km/h
• Around 9 km/h (correct)
• Around 90 km/h
• Around 25 km/h

Adult monarchs fly at around 9 km/h.

4. How many eggs may a prolific monarch lay in a lifetime?

• 118
• 11,800
• 18
• 1,180 (correct)

Some may reach 1,180 eggs in a lifetime.

5. According to one study, what may monarchs sense to steer by the sun?

• Magnetic rocks
• Moonlight glow
• Polarized UV skylight (correct)
• Ocean currents

One study suggests they detect polarized UV skylight to orient themselves with the sun.

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