Family: Nymphalidae
Species: Danaus plexippus
Date of birth: June 1st, 2012Hometown: Kellogg Biological Station (Apt. 44), MI
Favorite Food: Milkweed leaves
Favorite Hang-out: Milkweed plants (obviously)
Future Plans: Become a beautiful butterfly--every girl's dream
she is a bit camera shy though I cannot understand why, stripes are considered slimming...
After the spring migration north and east, Monarch butterflies lay several hundred eggs on newly sprouted milkweed leaves. The caterpillars that hatch in mid-April are the first generation. The caterpillars' diet consists of milkweed leaves, exclusively. After five molting stages, the caterpillar forms a chrysalis about itself and remains in this state for nine to fourteen days before it emerges as an adult butterfly. First, second, and third generation butterflies will live six to eight weeks during the spring and summer. The fourth generation that emerges in late summer will migrate over 2,000 miles to the warm Oyamel forests of the Mexican highlands to overwinter and create the first generation of the following spring.
Molly here is in her 5th instar and will be forming her chrysalis very soon. Over the course of her reckless youth she has been filling her body with toxins which will remain with her through her adult days. The latex of the milkweed leaves she feasts on provides valuable protection. In this case, the "poison" she has been filling her body with is only harmful to those that try to eat her as an adult. Predators of the monarch caterpillars (spiders, wasps, assassin bugs, etc) are not affected by the toxin. As a first generation caterpillar/butterfly, Molly will not be doing any international travelling, only local site-seeing and speed dating.
Conservation of prairie habitat is important for these beautiful creatures. Urban development and "round-up ready" crops are eliminating these habitats where the milkweed generally thrive. For an example of an ideal monarch habitat, one can visit the Kellogg Bird Sanctuary (entrance drive). Examine the Monarch Waystation there to observe the interactions between the butterflies and birds.
References:
Disclaimer: there is no way to tell if Molly is actually a female until she becomes an adult.
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