An Earthwatch TeachLive Project
Supported by National Geographic Education Foundation

QUESTIONS from STUDENTS
Asked by students from Valley Christian Elementary, The Harry Eichler School, Richmond Hill, NY and Mullica Township Middle School, Mullica Township, NJ

Discussions from audio and teleconferences during the project
   
Question: From Vietnam where do the Monarch Butterflies fly to?
 

Butterflies in Vietnam do not migrate – at least not that we have studied. Monarchs primarily migrate in North America. Each year in North America probably more than ten species of butterflies migrate northward from early spring to about midsummer and southward from late summer to fall. The Journey North follows the migratory species or insects and wildlife through student monitoring in North America. Other species of butterflies that migrate are Pipevine Swallowtails, Buckeye Butterflies, Cloudless Sulphurs (Phoebis sennae), Gulf Fritillaries (Agralis Vanillae), Red Admirals (Vanessa atalanta), and Saddlebag Dragonflies (Tramea lacerata). The Migratory Pollinators Program gives a great summary about migration patterns, species and locations.
Question: How do the weather changes affect the butterflies?
  Butterflies are very sensitive to climate changes and air conditions. It affects their breeding pattern and health conditions. Typhoons are the most problematic as butterflies have difficulty hiding during the storms.
Question: How long do the butterflies take to migrate?
 

They can take up to 10 months depending on where they go. It isn’t entirely clear what drives them, but it is a lovely sight.

Question: What do the antennas on the butterflies do?
  The two antennae and the two palpi, which are densely covered with scales, sense molecules in the air and gives butterflies a sense of smell. Butterfly use their antennae to 'smell' and to find food.
Question: How do the butterflies eat?
 

All butterfly have a proboscis which is used like a straw. The straw-like proboscis is the butterfly's tongue, through which it sucks nectar and water for nourishment. When not in use, the butterfly curls up its proboscis, under its head.

Question: What does the monarch butterfly eat?
  Monarch’s strictly eat milkweed, which is why they are sometimes called the milkweed butterfly. They will fight other butterfly for a chance to eat from this flower, especially when food is scarce, like in the fall. If you want to see the plant they eat and more about the Monarch, visit the Kidzone Monarch pages.
Question: What do other butterflies eat?
 

Most butterflies drink nectar from the center of flowers. They also sometimes drink dew drops and water from puddles. Each species has its own favorite food - which keeps nature in complete balance - provided butterfly populations remain diverse.
Question: Do butterflies eat anything other than nectar?
  Some butterflies and moths rarely visit flowers. Instead they may feed on mud, dirt, sap, dew, animal droppings, rotting fruit and carrion. Some enjoy these delicacies in addition to their standard nectar diet. In the Haven, we can often see Question Marks, Red Admirals, and Hackberry butterflies visiting the fruit tray.
Question: Do butterflies sleep?
  At night, or when the day is cloudy, adult butterflies rest by hanging upside down from leaves or twigs, where they are hidden among the foliage. We don't really know whether or not they are sleeping.
Question: Do butterflies have any of our five senses?
  To some extent, adult butterflies have all five senses. By far the most important sense for butterflies is smell -- the sensors on their antennae are highly sensitive to odors. Butterflies can also taste. They have "taste buds" at the end of the tongue, and females taste plants to identify them by using sensory structures on their feet.
Question: How many of species of monarch butterflies are there?
  The Monarch is a member of the tropical subfamily Danainae that contains 157 species known collectively as "the milkweed butterflies" because the caterpillars feed on plants that produce milky latex.
Question: How do caterpillars see?
  Most have six simple eyes, called 'ocelli' or 'stemmata.' Some species have fewer than six.
Question: What size is the average butterfly?
  The smallest butterfly's wingspan is 1/8 of an inch long while the largest is over 11 inches
Question: What are the body parts of a butterfly?
 

The butterfly's body can be divided into three segments. The head contains the eyes, the proboscis, and the antenna. The butterfly's proboscis can be called a tongue. The butterfly unrolls it's proboscis and then uses it to drink nectar from plants. Sometimes they drink out of water puddles, even sweat off a human’s nose!. A butterfly uses it's antenna as a nose. They sniff the air around them using their antenna. A butterfly's antenna is shaped like a club while a moth's antenna is feathery.

The thorax is the middle section of a butterfly's body. The wings and legs are attached to the thorax. A butterfly has six legs. A butterfly uses three pairs of jointed legs to taste the surface of a petal. They do this by scratching the surface of the petal.

The abdomen mostly contains a butterfly's reproductive organs. Organs that digest food and that get rid of waste products are also located here.

Question: How did the Monarch get its name (from any one place -- because it is the "king of butterflies?"
  That is a great question! Early settlers who came to North America from Europe, particularly those from Holland and England, were impressed by the sight of the Monarch butterfly. So, they named it "Monarch," after King William, Prince of Orange, stateholder of Holland, and later named King of England. The monarchs' color suggested the name.
Question: How do butterflies breathe?
  Adult butterflies, as well as caterpillars, breathe through a series of tiny openings along the sides of their bodies, called "spiracles." It sort of compares to the gills on a fish, if you are familiar with those. From each spiracle, a tube called a "trachea" carries oxygen into the body. Butterflies don't have noses and lungs as we do. Butterflies "smell" with their antennae.
Question: How do Monarch butterflies defend themselves?
  Most predators have learned that the monarch butterfly makes a poisonous snack.The toxins from the monarch's milkweed diet have given the butterfly this defense. In either the caterpillar or butterfly stage the monarch needs no camouflage because it takes in toxins from the milkweed and is poisonous to predators. Many animals advertise their poisonous nature with bright colors... just like the monarch!
Question: How high do the monarch butterflies fly?
  They usually fly close to the ground except when migrating. During migration they have been seen at 11,000 feet. For more information about this see the Journey North info page on flight.
Question: Why are cats so attracted to butterflies? (he has a cat always trying to catch butterflies)
  I think cats like them because of the movement - you know how they like to chase moving things, it is their nature. they are playful and the butterfly presents a realistic target.
Other animals, even dogs will chase a butterfly and the poor insects just dont have a sense of fear.
Question: What are the world's rarest and most common butterflies?
  Queen Alexandra's Birdwing (Ornithoptera alexandrae), is found only in the rain forest of New Guinea. It is the rarest and biggest of all butterflies. Destruction of its habitat is threatening this beautiful creature with extinction.The most common butterfly is the Cabbage White.
Question: What are the organs in a monarch butterfly and do they vary with those of other butterflies?
  Monarchs have the same biological makeup as other butterflies.
Question: How do you know the difference between the male and female butterflies?
  In many butterfly species the males have different colors than the males and female. Males are usually much more colorful - while females are dull - allowing them to be more camoflauged, especially important when they are laying eggs.
Question: How do butterflies communicate?
  Adult butterflies communicate with one another mostly through chemical cues -- the males produce chemicals called pheromones to seduce the females. Additionally, a few species communicate with sound. The male Cracker butterfly (Hamadryas) can make loud noises with his wings.
Question: How long do butterflies live?
 

Butterflies life spans vary - some live only two weeks, other live as long as 10 months. Migratory butterflies live longer.

Monarchs live only about four to five weeks. But one of the many wonders of the Monarchs is the annual creation of a unique "Methuselah generation." As autumn approaches in their sites of migratory origin, a very special generation of butterflies is born. Unlike their parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, and great-great-grandparents -- all of whom had ephemeral lives measured only in weeks -- these migratory butterflies survive as longs as ten months.
Question: Has anyone monitored the heartbeat of a butterfly?
 

I don't know if it has been monitored but they do have hearts. The butterfly has a long chambered heart that runs the length of it's body on the upper side. It pumps hemolymph (it lacks the red color of blood) from the rear of the insect forward to bathe its internal organs. It has other functions similar to our blood.

Question: Do the monarchs fly in groups and is that intentional? Do they fly with their own species?
  Yes, monarchs congregate, not only flying with their own species but also resting. Before migration begins they can often be seen in trees - making a single tree look like an autumn tree - with so many butterflies that the tree appears orange. They do this intentionally. It is all part of the migratory process. When you get a chance, check out the link http://www.learner.org/jnorth/
Question: How many species of monarch butterflies are there (estimate) ?
  The Monarch is a member of the tropical subfamily Danainae that contains 157 species known collectively as "the milkweed butterflies" because the caterpillars feed on plants that produce milky latex.
Question: Do the colors of the Monarch Butterflies have a symbol?
  A monarch's colors are a warning signal - telling predators that they are poisonous.
  What are the predators of butterflies?
  Snakes, lizards, wasps, bees, ants other butterflies, birds, parasatoids all eat butterflies at one stage or another.
Question: Does the poisonous food affect the monarch butterflies?
  Milkweed is the poisonous plant that Monarchs eat - which makes them poisonous, instead of killing them, it becomes a deadly potion to predators of the Monarch. This gives them defense from predators.
Question: What are Monarch predators?
 

Predators such as spiders and ants attack eggs and young larvae feeding on milkweed, whereas birds and wasps will eat adult monarch butterflies.

Parasitoids are specialized insects such as small flies and wasps that lay eggs on other insects. Parsitoid larvae then eat their prey from the inside out, usually emerging from the prey carcass as a pupa or adult. Smaller organisms that live and multiply inside their hosts, taking nutrients and resources, are called parasites. Parasites can be unicellular microbes such as viruses and bacteria, or larger organisms like mites and nematodes.

Birds such as black-beaked Orioles and black-headed Grosbeaks are common predators at monarch overwintering sites. These species can eat large quantities of monarchs without getting poisoned.

Orioles slit open the monarchs’ abdomens before feeding, avoiding most of the toxin-rich cuticle. Grosbeaks, which eat the entire abdomen, can tolerate higher levels of cardenolides in their digestive tracts. Research has shown that predation by these two bird species accounts for over 60% of the total monarch mortality during overwinter, and together they kill 7-44% of the total monarchs in any one colony

 

 

 

site and materials by Bonita Coleman