It is important to note that Monarch Butterflies lay their eggs on and feed solely on milkweeds. Milkweeds are crucial to their life cycle, especially in its caterpillar and butterfly stages. When a Monarch caterpillar eats the milkweed, the toxin that is contained within its leaves is ingested and stays with the caterpillar throughout its life, even when it is a butterfly. So, naturally, their eating of the milkweed acts as a type of defense mechanism that deters birds and other vertebrates from eating them. However, this is not the only defense mechanism that a Monarch exhibits. Their bright orange color, as seen in the image above, acts as a way to warn predators of their danger. These two defense mechanisms allow for the Monarch to have a greater rate of survival.
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