A report by Swara, 8, from Wellington
These beautiful creatures are not only stunning to look at, but they also have some amazing abilities that make them truly marvellous.
🧬 How to Tell Males from Females: Did you know, you can tell the difference between male and female monarch butterflies just by looking at their wings?
Female Monarchs have thicker black veins on their wings. Male Monarchs have two black dots on their hind wings and thinner veins.
Next time you see a monarch fluttering by, take a closer look you might be able to tell if it is a boy or a girl! 😊
🧭Masters of Migration: Monarch butterflies are excellent navigators. Despite their tiny size, they can travel thousands of kilometres during their migration. But how do they find their way?
They use the position of the sun to guide them. They recognise landmarks along their journey.
They even can remember places they have been before! How cool is that? These butterflies are like little flying GPS systems! 😊
🌿 Monarchs and Milkweed, A Toxic Relationship: Monarch butterflies thrive on milkweed, a plant that is toxic or poisonous to most animals. But monarchs are special.
Caterpillars feed exclusively on milkweed, storing the toxins in their bodies. These toxins make them unpleasant to predators, acting as a natural defence. Monarchs have evolved to digest milkweed safely, turning a dangerous plant into their personal protector.
This unique relationship helps monarchs survive and it is a brilliant example of how nature adapts in amazing ways.
