ScaleObjectSeed / unverified

Monarch Butterfly

Biology

The monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) is known for its spectacular annual migration from North America to Mexico — up to 3,000 km. Despite weighing only 0.5 grams, it navigates with remarkable precision. The migratory population is threatened by habitat loss.

biology.insects

Metrics

Scientific Name

Danaus plexippusHigh

Linnaeus, 1758. Family Nymphalidae, subfamily Danainae.

Wingspan

0.100mHigh

Mass

5 × 10^-4kgHigh

Approx. 600 mg before migration due to fat reserves.

Lifespan

2–9MonateHigh

Summer generation: 2–5 weeks. Migratory generation (autumn): 8–9 months.

Relations

Compares toHoneybeeAnalogyMedium

A monarch butterfly weighs about 5 times as much as a honeybee but travels thousands of times farther.

Factor: 5 × (Masse) · Direction: A_gt_B

Explanations

Draft

The Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) undertakes one of the longest animal migrations on Earth: up to 3,000 km from North America to Mexico, despite weighing only 0.5 grams – less than a paperclip! With a wingspan of 10 cm and top speeds of 20 km/h, this butterfly navigates with remarkable precision. Today, the migratory population is threatened by habitat loss and listed as "Vulnerable" by the IUCN.

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