Like a furled flag of
the insect realm, the monarch is made ready to
take flight by the drying of its wings. Called
"King Willie" in England (for William of
Orange, whose colors were those
of the butterfly), this monarch commands attention
throughout its life span. This species of the
lepidoptera order has a loyal following,
besides. It is probably the most studied
butterfly, and has subspecies around the
world. Add to this its migration instincts,
and it is probably a universally known marvel.
Monarch butterflies are almost a one-world
creature!
These monarchs have completed metamorphosis, and
decorate their host like ornaments. They spend
much of their lives on and near their
favorite food plant, the common milkweed.
There are many regional varieties of the plant,
and monarchs can generally be seen wherever milkweed
abounds.
Once burst upon the scene, the mature monarch butterfly brings joy to the eye. Its seemingly erratic flight heightened and brightened by a splash of eye-catching color grabs our attention. Whose hopes cannot be lifted by the sight?
The hungry bird, the playful cat, are captivated by the inviting, dodging flight of this butterfly, too. These soon learn that the monarch is neither toy nor dinner. They need only one lesson to leave the monarch alone. The noxious toxin in the monarch's body is a good teacher. Once a creature learns, appearance counts: the mimic coloration of the viceroy protects that species as well.
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