The Merry Monarch Trivia Quiz

Answer: Distinctly coloured wings of orange, black and white

The monarch is one of the world's most recognised butterflies, certainly in North America. This is due to its distinctive orange, black and white patterned wings. The top of the wings are a beautiful deep orange and are threaded with black veins. The margins of the wings are also laced with black. Also very recognisable are the two series of white spots along the edges of the wings.

Besides giving the insect a striking appearance, this colouring also proves to be very useful to the butterfly. It serves as a warning to predators that the insect is poisonous. This warning through colouration is known as aposematism.

Answer: Greek

The name Danaus plexippus is Greek and means "sleepy transformation" which is a reference to the life cycle of the insect commonly known as the monarch butterfly. They were first described by the great Carl Linnaeus in his 1758 work "Systema Natura".

However in 1780 the Polish entomologist, Jan Krysztof Kluk, named a new genus of butterflies Danaus and placed the monarch in this new group. Monarchs are part of the family of milkweed butterflies (Deanaidae) which refers to their main habitat of mikweed species. Danaus plexippus is one of three species of monarch butterflies although it is by far the best known. Six subspecies and two colour morphs have been identified within this species.

Answer: Early European settlers to North America

The most common name given to this "king of butterflies" is monarch. This has been traced back to the early European settlers to North America, especially those of Dutch and English background. At the time of this settlement William of Orange was both the Stadtholder of Holland and King William III of England.

When the settlers first came across this bright orange butterfly, they were so dazzled by its colour that they named it in honour of their king. This is also thought to be the origin of another common name by which the butterfly is known - king billy.

Answer: Herbivorous

While the monarch butterfly is entirely herbivorous, there is a difference in their diet depending on the stage of their life cycle. Monarch butterfly larvae feed almost exclusively on the different species of milkweed. This explains one of the other common names for the species, the milkweed butterfly.

However, once they reach the adult stage, their diet becomes more varied as they use the nectar of the flowers of various species for sustenance. In addition to milkweed coneflowers, thistles, asters and horseweed are among the species used.

Answer: The male has a black spot on the inside of its hind wing that is lacking in the female

A sure fire way to distinguish a male from female monarch butterfly, should you get close enough to look, is the presence of a black spot on the inside of its hind wing. This is completely absent in females. This spot is made up of androconial scales.

There is a certain extent of sexual dimorphism in that the male is slightly larger than the female although this is not marked. The black vein patterning on the wings of the female is also somewhat thicker than on those of the male which can make her appear darker in colour.

Answer: Thirty days

The life cycle of the monarch is a four stage affair with the development from a newly laid egg to a fully fledged adult butterfly taking about 30 days to complete. The first stage is obviously the egg. This is laid by the female on the bottom of a milkweed leaf.

The female usually only lays one egg at a time although she will do multiple layings throughout her life. This egg usually hatches within 3-4 days of being laid. The second stage is the larva or caterpillar stage and this normally takes between ten and fourteen days. Caterpillars will moult when they outgrow their skins.

This shedding is called an instar and monarchs undergo five instars. The third stage is the pupa or chrysalis stage which also takes between ten and fourteen days.

This is the time when the caterpillar becomes a butterfly! The pupa, which is normally well camouflaged to deter predation, hangs from a silk pad spun by the caterpillar by a pair of pre-legs. Finally a fully fledged adult butterfly emerges to begin its main task of reproduction and hopefully a whole new cycle of life starts.

Answer: They migrate to warmer climes

The monarch is the only species of butterfly known to make a two-way migration annually, much in the same way as birds do. This annual migration of millions of butterflies is considered to be one of the great wonders of the animal kingdom. Known to fly as many as a hundred miles a day, every year, starting around October, the butterflies leave their summer feeding grounds of the north and make their way south to warmer climes.

There are three distinct and separate populations of monarchs in North America and each population has its own separate migration path. Those west of the Rocky Mountains head off to southern California for the winter whilst those east of the Rockies choose Mexico as their wintering ground. During this migration, the insects use both thermals and air currents to cover distances of up to 3000 miles. Then, come spring and warmer weather around March, the butterflies make the arduous journey back to the north for the summer months.

Answer: Milkweeds contain toxins and provide a defence against predators

While very restrictive in terms of habitat, the milkweed species which provide the exclusive diet of monarch caterpillars play a vital role in ensuring the survival of the species. Milkweeds contain toxins known as cardinolide aglycones which are transferred to the caterpillar as it consumes the plant.

These are then stored in their bodies and remain in the insect for its entire lifespan. They ensure that the insect tastes terrible to say the least. This, together with the bright colouring, deters predation and contributes to the long term survival of the species.

Answer: Loss of their breeding habitat of milkweeds

When studies showed that there has been a considerable decline in the number of monarch butterflies, especially in their overwintering locations, investigations into the cause were instituted. Although it is not the only threat the butterfly faces, it has now established that the most critical threat facing the continued survival of this insect is the loss of the milkweed species that is their sole breeding habitat.

The decline in the milkweed has been traced back to the increased use of herbicides by farmers and to the increase in the number of genetically modified crops such as soybean and corn which are herbicide resistant.

As the milkweed is not herbicide resistant, spraying effectively results in the elimination of the milkweed which used to grow between the rows of crops and provide habitat for the butterflies.

Answer: Mimicry

In biology, mimicry is where an animal develops a similarity to another animal because that similarity gives them an advantage that they would not otherwise enjoy. This can be either appearance, behaviour or both. It has long been accepted that the similarity in appearance between the monarch and the viceroy (Limenitis archippus) is a case of mimicry. For a long time it was thought that it was a case of Batesian mimicry. This is where a harmless animal gains protection from predators by resembling a poisonous one.

However, this theory has been revised after a study in 1991 found that the viceroy is actually toxic and dangerous in its own right. This would make the relationship between the two butterfly species an example of Mullerian mimicry. This is where two harmful species develop similar appearance or behaviour patterns anyway. The theory is that if they look alike or act alike and predators have learnt to avoid one species, the chances are highly likely that they will avoid the other species as well. A win-win situation for both species, so to speak!