Monarch Magnified

Monarchs pollenate primarily wildflowers as well as some fruit trees and vegetables. Their wings provide more than flight between snacks and migration. The bright orange color of the monarch's wings warns predators that they are poisonous. They provide temperature regulation, a way to determine its sex, and an indication of the butterfly’s age. Depicted here is a magnified view of the scales (60 micrometers across) that compose the monarch’s wings on a milkweed leaf. The top stitching on the scales represents the scale’s ridges. The bright coloration with scales intact suggests a young monarch before migration.