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The Monarch Butterfly's Extraordinary Journey: What's the Mystery Behind its Annual Migration of Thousands of Kilometers?
The monarch butterfly, Danaus plexippus, is a well-known North American butterfly and an important pollinator, although it is not particularly effective at pollinating avocado flowers. This butterfly is beloved for its distinctive black, orange and white wing pattern, which typically spans between 8.9 and 10.2 centimeters. Every fall, monarch butterflies embark on a thousands-kilometer migration from central and southern North America to Florida and Mexico. With the return of spring, they will return north to complete more than a year. modern ecological cycle.
Every year, during this spectacular migration, thousands of monarch butterflies overcome various challenges to reach their breeding grounds.
The migratory behavior of monarch butterflies shows us the wonders of nature. Their life cycle is divided into four stages: egg, larvae, pupa and adult butterfly. During the warm summer months, monarch butterfly eggs hatch into larvae in three to eight days, progressing through five larval stages before pupating and becoming adults approximately two weeks later. Less than 10% of monarch butterfly larvae survive this process due to threats from weather, predators, parasites and diseases.
Although adult butterflies create a new life, their journey is never easy, and they often have to challenge extreme climate and natural enemies.
The monarch may be the first butterfly to have its genome sequenced. Its genome provides insights into its migratory behavior, diurnal clock, growth hormone pathway, and microRNAs that are differentially expressed between summer and migratory states. How the spatial environment affects the migratory behavior of these butterflies is still an ongoing research topic, and the exploration of the migration genes of monarch butterflies has gradually become known in recent years.
Studying these genes helps us understand how monarch butterflies adapt to the challenges of their migration.
In addition to genetic differences, monarch butterflies also show amazing adaptability in color and shape. Research points out that monarch butterflies have four types of retinal photochromic cells, giving them superior color vision than humans. It can distinguish not only visible light, but also light in the ultraviolet band, which is crucial for them to identify their orientation, find food and find breeding sites during migration.
This "true color vision" allows monarch butterflies to search for sweet nectar and milkweed suitable for egg laying to fill their lives.
In terms of reproduction, the process of mating between male and female monarch butterflies is equally fascinating. After the males chase the females, they stop to mate for about 30 minutes, a process that not only delivers sperm but also provides the females with the nutrients they need to lay eggs. Studies have found that females that mate more often lay more eggs. This reproductive behavior peaks during the spring breeding season and fluctuates with the seasons.
The migration and reproduction behaviors of monarch butterflies are intertwined to form the life cycle of this species.
Not only that, the monarch butterfly's range covers from southern North America to northern South America, as well as many Pacific Islands and the Caribbean. Their adaptability and migratory behavior not only allow them to survive in a wide range of habitats, but also allow them to thrive in diverse environments.
This will lay the foundation for environmental protection of this beautiful species and promote biodiversity.
As a fascinating creature, the migratory journey of the monarch butterfly is not only a miracle of nature, but also an important object of scientific research. With various threats such as climate change and environmental damage, their survival situation is worrying. People can't help but wonder, how should we protect these beautiful flyers to ensure their future?
