... in the circle of life. Even with that very battered and tattered wing, a new generation will be ensured. I do love the monarchs. Thank you for all the awesome comments yesterday, I love this place!
@elatedpixie this is a great question as they are a fascinating butterfly!
no, they are not native here BUT they are not considered an invasive, nor a predatory species. Their host plant is called milkweed. The seed pods are large and full of a fluff that was commonly used to create packaging material, and it is thought that they were often imported as a pretty garden plant. Possibly these brought monarchs with them, it's interesting to read up on all the theories. But I guess this is one of the reasons the monarch is called 'the greater wanderer' as it is quite an amazingly adaptable butterfly!
Here in Australia they live and breed wherever they are, they probably don't need to migrate as I see them living and breeding on the property all year round :)
They don't predate on our native butterflies in any way, and so they have been embraced in Australia and we get to enjoy them immensely :)
no, they are not native here BUT they are not considered an invasive, nor a predatory species. Their host plant is called milkweed. The seed pods are large and full of a fluff that was commonly used to create packaging material, and it is thought that they were often imported as a pretty garden plant. Possibly these brought monarchs with them, it's interesting to read up on all the theories. But I guess this is one of the reasons the monarch is called 'the greater wanderer' as it is quite an amazingly adaptable butterfly!
Here in Australia they live and breed wherever they are, they probably don't need to migrate as I see them living and breeding on the property all year round :)
They don't predate on our native butterflies in any way, and so they have been embraced in Australia and we get to enjoy them immensely :)