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What is the migration pattern of monarch butterflies?
Each fall, North American monarchs travel from their summer breeding grounds to overwintering locations. East of the Rocky Mountains, monarchs travel up to an astonishing 3,000 miles to central Mexico, whereas the shorter western migration is to the California coast.
How is the monarch butterflies migration connected to its biology?
Migration allows the butterflies to escape freezing temperatures and dying host plants, and reduces infections with a virulent parasite. The publication of the monarch genome and the development of gene- editing strategies have enabled the dissection of the genetic and neurobiological basis of the migration.
What is the relationship between monarch butterflies and milkweed?
But what does the monarch do for the milkweed? As the adult butterfly flies from flower to flower looking for food, it helps to pollinate the milkweed. This allows the milkweed to successfully produce seeds that will grow and attract more monarchs in the years to come.
What are the stages of the life cycle of a monarch butterfly?
The four stages of the monarch butterfly life cycle are the egg, the larvae (caterpillar), the pupa (chrysalis), and the adult butterfly.
How many generations of monarch butterflies migrate?
Monarch butterflies may take five generations to migrate to US. The migration routes of the iconic monarch butterfly across the North American continent have been mapped in unprecedented detail.
Where do monarch butterflies migrate to?
southwestern Mexico
The colorful insect’s migration across the North American continent is one of the greatest natural events on Earth. Each fall, millions of monarch butterflies leave their summer breeding grounds in the northeastern U.S. and Canada and travel upwards of 3,000 miles to reach overwintering grounds in southwestern Mexico.
Where do Western monarchs migrate to?
Western Monarchs In the western United States, monarchs migrate to groves of trees on the Pacific coast from Mendocino to Northern Baja, and tagging studies have shown some monarchs from the Southwest even migrate to central Mexico to mix with the Eastern monarch population.
Is the relationship between monarch butterflies and milkweed Commensalism or parasitism?
Monarch butterflies and milkweed are an example of commensalism. Commensalism is a relationship between two organisms in which one benefits from the other without causing harm to it. The commensal organism obtains food, shelter, locomotion, or support.
What do monarchs do with milkweed?
Monarchs Need Milkweed Monarch caterpillars ONLY eat milkweed. In fact, the monarch butterfly is also known as the “milkweed butterfly.” The milkweed plant provides all the nourishment the monarch needs to transform the Monarch caterpillar into the adult butterfly.
What is a butterfly life cycle?
There are four stages in the metamorphosis of butterflies and moths: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. …
How long is each stage of the monarch butterfly life cycle?
Butterflies and moths undergo complete metamorphosis, in which there are four distinct stages: egg, larva (caterpillar), pupa, and adult. Monarch development from egg to adult is completed in about 30 days.