A butterfly sitting on a flower is an embodiment of beauty and a symbol of life, it is a trusting and reverent creature. One of the most extraordinary and amazing in the world is considered a danaida monarch. According to the range of flights, it is recognized as a champion and can overcome the Atlantic Ocean. In the summer, she travels to North America, and always winters in the highlands of Mexico. Tens of millions of butterflies fly there in the fall. This species was first described by Linnaeus K.
Butterfly Danaida Monarch: Description
This is a fairly large insect. On the wings of an orange color with a span of up to 10 cm there is a pattern formed by oblong stripes of dark color. The edging is decorated with light small spots of brown-black hue, and one large one is located on each wing. Markings of white color located on the chest and head, as it were, warn the birds that the insect is inedible.
The presence of red color helps scare away enemies and serves as a warning signal. Such an unusual color helps the butterfly hide and be invisible. The splendor of its wings resembles that of noble metals. Huge eyes with a yellow rim and black pupils scare away enemies. The males on the short hind wings have black odorous scales. In females, they do not occur. The following difference is size: female insects are smaller.
Where do they meet?
Their habitat is the Far East, North Africa, the Hawaiian Islands, the south-west of Great Britain, Europe, i.e., all regions of the globe, except for places with a cold climate. This is the most famous insect in North America.
In Bermuda, the Danaida monarch lives year-round due to a stable mild and favorable climate. In New Zealand and Australia, representatives of this species were discovered in the nineteenth century.
Breeding
In the spring, before migrating from wintering places, insects mate. Males attract females with pheromones. Even at a considerable distance, they are able to find a girlfriend. Courting is carried out in several stages:
- Aerial, or chasing. The male pushes the female with wings and pulls down.
- Ground. Male insects fertilize the female half with sperm, passing it in a pouch.
About thirty days pass from the moment of laying eggs to an adult. Only in the existence of these amazing insects, as well as in the way of life of the butterfly of the danaid monarch, can a mysterious transformation be observed. From a voracious and nondescript caterpillar, an exquisite beauty is obtained.
The stages of development of the insect are as follows:
- The egg , which the female lays in spring or summer, has an irregular conical shape in a whitish-creamy color. In rare cases, it is slightly yellowish, weighing about 0.46 mg. Outside it is covered with barely noticeable seams and longitudinal ridges, of which there are twenty-three pieces.
- The caterpillar appears in four days and in this form exists for two weeks. Initially, it feeds on the shell of an egg, and then consumes leaflets. During this period, it accumulates fatty and other useful substances necessary for the transition to the next stage.
- Dolly . The caterpillar is wrapped in a leaf and wrapped in it with the help of a special material (silk), then hangs head down for two weeks. Then it molts, discarding the green shell, and acquires a transparent dark color with red wings.
- Mature individual. A real butterfly appears. Initially, it is attached for several hours to the cocoon. At this time, the wings are filled with liquid, strengthen, expand - and the insect is ready to fly.
Migration
By nature, the butterfly danaida monarch is an avid traveler. It is known that these insects are the best flyers in the world, the flights of which were recorded by Columbus. According to some sources, when moving, they are guided by the sun and the magnetic field of the globe. Migrating, the butterfly Danaida monarch overcomes about 5,000 km. In warmer areas, the United States moves from the northern, starting in August and until the onset of the first cold weather. Individuals living in the eastern regions, starting in mid-October, move to places located in the Mexican state of Michoacan.
The life cycle of the insect is not enough for a full flight. A fertilized female retains eggs during the migration. Individuals born at the beginning of summer die in two months and do not have time to overcome all the way. The last generation of this period enter the reproductive phase of diabases, due to which their life expectancy increases to about seven months. At this time, they are able to reach wintering places. Offspring are produced only when they leave these places. The second, third and fourth generation returns to the United States, its northern regions, lay eggs and die. Five generations have been living in America and Canada from spring to autumn; the latter also travel to Mexico in the fall. How the last generation Dananaid monarch butterflies migrate to a specific place in the mountains of this country remains an unsolved mystery to this day.
Nutrition
Euphorbia, growing like a weed, is very fond of the caterpillars of these insects. The juice of this poisonous plant is preserved in the adult body, so the birds do not exterminate them, which contributes to an increase in the population of butterflies.
Using this grass, the monarch brings great benefits to crops. In general, insects are quite voracious and enjoy eating floral nectar and the following plants:
- pleural root;
- mother liquor;
- clover;
- butyky;
- aster
- lilacs.
Interesting Facts
In some states of America, the danaida monarch is considered a symbol insect. In the nineties, an attempt was made to nominate her for the title of national symbol, but this venture was unsuccessful.
In some educational institutions, caterpillars are given to pupils for cultivation, and then an adult is released into natural conditions.
In places of wintering butterflies create reserves that are visited by a large number of tourists.
Danaida is an adornment of collections and is used as an object of study. There is an opinion that she received the name in honor of William III.
According to ancient Greek mythology, the name of the Danaus clan came from the name of the son of the Egyptian king Danai or his great-granddaughter Danai.
“King William” - this is what it is called in Canada because of the orange-black color, since the family color of the King of England, William III of Orange, who ruled from 1689 to 1702, was orange.
Threats and methods of protection
This is currently a protected species. Mass deforestation in the wintering areas of insects has led to a significant reduction in their numbers. Crops in the fields where the euphorbia weed grows are treated with chemicals, which leads to a decrease in the butterflies' food sources.
Danaida monarch is a poisonous species and very unpleasant in taste due to the use of caterpillars as food for the quail. Birds and other predators in nature do not eat them, the bright colors of butterflies indicate their inedibility.