MONARCH BUTTERFLY – LA MARIPOSA MONARCA
Monarch butterfly anatomy consists of the following: Head with a set of tubercles and compound eyes; attached to the thorax are two sets of wings, fore wings, hind wings and six legs; and the butterfly has an abdomen.
Look at the hind wings and you will see two small black pheromone glands. These are called hairpencils. The male butterfly wafts a scent of pheromones over the tubercles of a mother butterfly. Cornell scientists have identified the pheromone as danaidone. The alluring scent and a powdery substance can attach to a female’s antennae and woo a mother butterfly.
Adult monarchs do not fly at night or when it is too hot. Butterflies will seek out shade to rest in. The monarchs cannot fly when it is below 55 degrees Fahrenheit. The butterfly starts to fly at approximately 10 a.m. when the sun begins to warm them; they are most active between 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Did you know the monarch butterfly can fly approximately 50 miles a day?
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