Monarch butterflies use several defense mechanisms throughout their four lifecycles to protect against predators.

1. Danaus Plexippus

2. Ovum (egg)
4-5 days
Larva (caterpillar)
2-3 weeks
Pupa (chrysalis)
10-12 days
Ovum (egg)
4-6 days
Imago (adult)
2-3 weeks

3. A female Monarch will only place her eggs on
milkweed. Without milkweed, the caterpillars will
not survive.

4. The toxic sap
inside the plant
protects the
caterpillar and
later the butterfly.

6. A female Monarch
will lay 400-500
eggs during her
lifetime. Only 5% of
the eggs that were
laid will survive and
become butterflies.

7. The life of a Monarch during all
four stages of it’s life is
dangerous because there are
many natural predators.

10. Birds spiders
Frogs
Mice
Bugs

11. Tachinid Fly lays eggs on the caterpillar.
The eggs hatch out into little larva that
eat the insides of the insides of the

12. There are many strategies the
Monarch uses to protect itself
throughout it’s life.

14. The female Monarch butterfly
protects her eggs by:
• Depositing the egg underneath
the leaf.
• Spreading her eggs on several
different plants over a large area.

15. When the young caterpillar emerges it’s first
meal is the egg shell which provides the
nutrients it needs to start eating the leaf.

16. The caterpillar eats
the leaf along with
the sap inside the
leaf. This will
protect it from
predators.

19. 1. Camouflage
2. Toxicity
3. Bungee Escape
The Monarch caterpillar
protects itself by using
these defenses:

20. The Monarch caterpillar protects itself by
using these defenses:
Camouflage
Toxicity

21. The caterpillar finds a place to hide and
spins a silk button where it can safely
hang itself.

22. The caterpillar finds a place to hide and
spins a silk button where it can safely
hang itself.

23. The only defense a Monarch
chrysalis has is camouflage.

26. The adult Monarch is especially
equipped to survive and to protect
itself from predators.

28. Antennae have chemical
receptors to help find milkweed.

29. Feet have chemical
receptors to help
find milkweed.

30. Compound eyes see ultra violet waves to
help find milkweed.

31. The wings:
•Allow the butterfly to fly erratically to avoid
predators.
•They are waterproof. They propel water.
•Make it difficult for a predator to catch a
butterfly.

33. But most important
the monarch butterfly's bright
orange colors are warning signs for
predators to stay away.

35. Monarch butterflies are found all over
the world.

36. Right now millions of Monarch are
arriving in Mexico!

37. Monarchs that live in North America migrate to and
from Mexico every year.

38. How do they manage to defend
themselves while they are traveling south?

39. Monarchs fly high in air thermals.

41. They rest at night in groups called
“roosts”.

42. How do the Monarchs navigate
their way to Mexico?
•They use the sun to know what
direction to travel.
•Their antennae are like an internal
compass that helps direct them.

43. Why do the Monarchs travel all
the way to Mexico every fall?
• The butterflies cannot survive the
freezing winter weather.
• All the milkweed and flowers
they need to survive has died.

44. How do Monarchs survive the
winter in Mexico?
•They form clusters in trees to
keep warm.
•They live high up in the trees to
protect themselves from
predators.

46. •They are able to conserve energy
by living up in the mountains
where it is cool. The cool
temperatures in the forest slows
down their metabolism so they can
stay alive longer.
•They drink water on warmer days.

49. The greatest threats to butterflies
are:
Habitat change and loss due to
residential, commercial and
agricultural development.
Climate change is also threatening
the Monarch butterfly migration.

50. What is the most dangerous
predator of the Monarch
butterfly?

52. What can we do to help the
Monarch butterfly?
•Plant milkweed
•Plant nectar flowers

53. They obtain energy they can store inside their bodies to survive
from the milkweed they eat as caterpillars and the nectar they eat
as adults.