Monarch Butterfly Defense Mechanisms

What are the two main defense mechanisms of the monarch butterfly?

• Bright colors and being poisonous

• Camouflage and mimicry

• Speed and agility

• Nocturnal behavior

What is the term used by scientists to describe the warning coloration of monarch butterflies?

• Aposematic coloration

• Cryptic coloration

• Mimetic coloration

• Defensive coloration

Why do birds and other animals avoid eating monarch butterflies?

• They are poisonous and cause sickness

• They are too fast to catch

• They blend in with their surroundings

• They are nocturnal and hard to find

Tags

CCSS.RI.4.2

CCSS.RI.5.2

CCSS.RL.3.2

CCSS.RL.4.2

CCSS.RL.5.2

Where do monarch butterflies lay their eggs?

• On milkweed plants

• On oak trees

• On grass

• On flowers

What happens to animals that eat monarch caterpillars or milkweed?

• They get sick and throw up

• They become immune to the poison

• They gain extra energy

• They become more colorful

Which monarch butterflies have less poison?

• Older butterflies and male monarchs

• Younger butterflies and female monarchs

• All monarchs have the same amount of poison

• Only female monarchs

What is a significant evolutionary advantage for monarch caterpillars?

• Their ability to eat poisonous plants like milkweed

• Their ability to fly long distances

• Their ability to change colors

• Their ability to live in cold climates