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The Monarch Butterfly and the States it Represents
The Monarch is the state insect of Alabama, Idaho, Illinois and Texas
and is the state butterfly of Minnesota, West Virginia and Vermont.
It is known by scientists as Danaus plexippus, which in Greek literally means
"sleepy transformation."
It is also known as the "milkweed butterfly" because monarch caterpillars appear to feed exclusively on the milkweed plant.
The adult monarchs possess two orange wings featuring black veins and spots along the edges. Their wingspan is about four inches and they weigh less than half an ounce with the males usually being slightly larger than the females.
The monarch butterflies are among the largest and most beautiful of the native
North American butterflies.
Monarch butterflies are found throughout the continental United States, in southern Canada, the Caribbean islands, Australia, New Zealand, and other Pacific islands. The monarch butterfly is able to survive anywhere the milkweed plant is available. This is one of the reasons that the monarch is one of the most recognized of North American butterflies and has been named as the state butterfly for seven states.
The monarch is one of the few butterflies that migrate north and south like birds do. Unlike birds, however, individual butterflies do not complete the migration both ways. It is butterflies of another generation that complete the return journey.
In the fall, a very special generation of butterflies is born. Unlike their parents, who lived only a few weeks, these butterflies are able to survive for seven or eight months.
These monarchs in the north gather and begin to move south. In North America there are two large population groups that follow separate migration paths. Most monarchs east of the Rocky Mountains over-winter in the Sierra Madres in central Mexico and the far western populations of monarchs over-winter along the coast of southern California. In the Spring they head north and breed along the way. The original butterfly dies along the way but the offspring it leaves behind goes on to the north where the cycle begins again. It is not clear how the butterflies manage to return to the same over-wintering spots year after year over several generations. It is believed that the flight patterns are inherited based on the position of the sun in the sky and circadian rhythm. (Circadian rhythm is a name given to the internal clock that regulates biological processes in plants and animals.)
Another recent study suggests that butterflies also have special ultraviolet photoreceptors that provide them with a sense of direction.
Monarch butterflies have become one of the most popular and most widely recognized butterflies in North America, the United States and in our backyard gardens. As more states appoint state butterflies look for the monarch to stay out in front in popularity.
. Alabama ~ Monarch & Tiger Swallowtail
. Arizona ~ Two - Tailed Swallowtail
. California ~ California Dogface
. Colorado ~ Colorado Hairstreak
. Florida ~ Zebra Longwing & Giant Swallowtail
. Georgia ~ Tiger Swallowtail
. Idaho ~ Monarch
. Illinois ~ Monarch
. Kentucky ~ Viceroy
. Maryland ~ Baltimore Checkerspot
. Minnesota ~ Monarch
. Mississippi ~ Spicebush Swallowtail
. Missouri ~ Spicebush Swallowtail
. New Hampshire ~ Karner Blue
. New Jersey ~ Tiger Swallowtail
. Ohio ~ Tiger Swallowtail
. Oklahoma ~ Black Swallowtail
. Oregon ~ Old World Swallowtail
. South Carolina ~ Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
. Tennessee ~ Zebra Swallowtail
. Texas ~ Monarch
. Vermont ~ Monarch
. Virginia ~ Tiger Swallowtail
. West Virginia ~ Monarch
Article submitted by Tammy Spivey
Butterflies Abound
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