Hanging On
by Elizabeth Winter
Title
Hanging On
Artist
Elizabeth Winter
Medium
Photograph - Photography
Description
• A black spot on an inside surface of its hind wing distinguishes the male Monarch butterflies from the females that have no such spot
• The monarch butterfly does not have lungs; breathing takes place through tiny vents in the thorax or abdomen called spiracles, and an organized arrangement of tubes called trachea, distribute the oxygen through the Monarch’s body system
• They have a 10 cm wingspan and weigh between 0.25 to 0.75 grams
• The wings flap slower than other butterflies at about 300 to 720 times a minute
• Senses of smell and vision help the Monarch butterflies to assess its environment
• They have a broad spectrum perception of colors and can see even the UV light that humans cannot
• Their process of communication uses colors and scents. Chemical discharged from the rear wing glands help the males to attract its mate
• The Monarch butterfly can cumulatively lay about a maximum of 250 eggs per day at the rate of one egg at a time. The witnessed highest number of eggs laid by a monarch butterfly in captivity is 1179
• These butterflies use their eyes to locate flowers, they use their antennas to smell the nectar and the minute receptors lodged in their feet called “tarsi” come in handy to taste sweet substances
• Adult monarchs feed on nectar and water by sipping on it using a sucking tube called proboscis that lies coiled under the head when not in use
• Monarch butterflies store a poison called Cardiac Glycosides that they had ingested by feeding on the leaves of the milkweed foliage in their larva stage. These are sometimes harmful to its vertebrate predators, but ineffective on invertebrate predators. The toxic effect on vertebrates however, depends on the level of intake. These toxins provide these butterflies with a poisonous defense against its predators such as lizards, birds, and frogs.
- See more at: http://www.monarch-butterfly.com/monarch-butterflies-facts.html#sthash.7xmxZy2N.dpuf
Uploaded
September 4th, 2014
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Viewed 248 Times - Last Visitor from Ottawa, ON - Canada on 03/18/2024 at 2:26 PM
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Comments (24)
Maria Hunt
How exquisite, Elizabeth.. Allow me to belatedly congratulate you on your 1st place win in a Juried contest for Coreopsis .. Brava, dear lady. F/L
Maria Urso
Congratulations on your 1st Place win in the Quick Coreopsis Contest for the Exquisite Florals group, wonderful capture.
Ann Horn
Beautiful flower and butterfly, Elizabeth. They go so well together... love the matching background as well. f/l