How are the monarch butterfly & milkweed interdependent on each other?
A female monarch butterfly seeks out milkweed species upon which to lay her eggs. The resulting caterpillars eat the leaves and flowers of that milkweed plant. Milkweed plants are essential for the survival of monarchs – no other plant species works.
What are examples of commensalism relationships?
Examples of Commensalism
- Remora fish have a disk on their heads that makes them able to attach to larger animals, such as sharks, mantas, and whales.
- Nurse plants are larger plants that offer protection to seedlings from the weather and herbivores, giving them an opportunity to grow.
- Tree frogs use plants as protection.
What is the coevolution of monarch butterflies and milkweed?
This intimate relationship arose through coevolution, the evolutionary process whereby one species evolves in response to the other, and the other species in turn evolves in response to the first species. Once a monarch butterfly lays an egg on a milkweed plant, the natural history of coevolution unfolds.
What do monarch butterflies do with milkweed?
In fact, the monarch butterfly is also known as the “milkweed butterfly.” The milkweed plant provides all the nourishment the monarch needs to transform the Monarch caterpillar into the adult butterfly.
Is the relationship between monarch butterflies and milkweed mutualism or Commensalism?
Monarch butterflies and milkweed are an example of commensalism. Commensalism is a relationship between two organisms in which one benefits from the other without causing harm to it. The commensal organism obtains food, shelter, locomotion, or support.
How do monarch butterflies pollinate?
Monarch butterflies contribute heavily to pollination as they feed from the nectar of numerous flowers. They travel great distances, allowing them to pollinate larger areas than bees. But just like other pollinators, monarch butterflies have experienced a major decline in the past few decades.
What is the best example of commensalism?
One of the best-known examples of a commensal is the remora (family Echineidae) that rides attached to sharks and other fishes. Remoras have evolved on the top of their heads a flat oval sucking disk structure that adheres to the bodies of their hosts.
Which animal is an example of commensalism?
Another example of commensalism is one organism using another as a means of transportation. A lot of insects, fish, and other animals use each other in this way, but a good example is the remora. This is a type of suckerfish that will attach itself to sharks and other big fish to catch an underwater ride.
How do monarch butterflies find milkweed?
Monarchs find milkweed using their sense of sight and smell (sensory receptors). They have sensory receptors in their antennae and front legs. Reproductive female monarchs continuously move across the landscape in search of milkweed on which to lay their eggs.
What do monarch butterflies symbolize?
Monarch Butterfly Meaning and Symbolism In a nod to their life cycle, from egg to caterpillar to butterfly, monarchs can represent transformation and rebirth to some people. Some sources indicate the butterflies are a symbol of hope and resilience.
Why are monarch butterflies attracted to milkweed?
Many flowers — especially native plants — are terrific sources of nectar for monarch butterflies, but milkweed leaves are the only food monarch caterpillars eat. Monarchs butterflies lay their eggs on milkweed plants so the tiny caterpillars will have access to food the moment they hatch.
Is milkweed good for monarch butterflies?
Milkweed is the host plant for the monarch butterfly. Without milkweed, the larva would not be able to develop into a butterfly. Monarch larvae ,or caterpillars, feed exclusively on milkweed leaves.
What is the symbiotic relationship between monarch butterflies and milkweed?
There is a symbiotic relationship between the native milkweed plants and the monarch. The monarch butterflies enjoy the nectar from the flowers and help pollinate the plants. The successful pollination allows the milkweed to thrive and thus provide more nurseries for the crucial ‘fourth generation’ of monarchs.
Do monarch caterpillars eat anything besides milkweed?
Actually, no. Monarch caterpillars do only eat plants in the Milkweed family ( Asclepias spp), so if we want to help them out in our wildlife gardens, we still need to add these plants to our gardens. Monarch caterpillars do not feed on tomato plants, despite what may seem like circumstantial evidence to the contrary.
What do butterflies like milkweed?
as well as other milkweed species are also favorites of butterflies, bees, and other insects that are nectar feeders , for their reliable, sweet, high energy food. Butterflies benefit from the food offered by milkweeds, and in return they do help the plants with pollination, but they are not the most successful pollinators of milkweeds.
Do Butterflies like milkweed?
Monarch butterflies only lay their eggs on milkweed, and caterpillars only eat milkweed. But humans don t seem to like milkweed very much and are cutting it down for various reasons. Sometimes humans cut down milkweed in order to build houses, buildings and streets. Sometimes the milkweed is cut down when trees are removed to harvest the wood.