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  Monarch butterflies live
wherever milkweed plants grow. Females lay eggs on
milkweeds, and the larvae that hatch eat the milkweed.
Poison chemicals in the milkweed are absorbed by the
larvae. The chemicals make the larvae and the adult
butterflies taste terrible. As a result, birds quickly
learn not to eat them. Adult monarchs feed on nectar in
flowers. In the fall, most of the monarchs in North
America migrate several thousand miles to Mexico. Flying
at speeds up to 11 mph, they can cover 80 miles in a day. |
 |
 Sometimes the quality of
a prairie can be indicated by the kinds of animals that
it supports. The regal fritillary is a good example of a
high quality prairie butterfly. It has orange and black
markings, similar to the monarch. A good way to identify
a regal fritillary is to look for a pair of lower wings,
which are mostly black with white spots. The regal
fritillary is often seen on the prairie between July and
September sipping nectar from thistles and milkweeds.
Eggs are laid on prairie violets. |
 |
 Skippers are a group of
butterflies that resemble a cross between a butterfly and
a moth. They have smaller wings and shorter, thicker
bodies than most butterflies. Their coloration is usually
a dull orange-gray, and most are difficult to identify.
Many species live on prairies, but a few skippers are
prairie obligates, which means they must have prairie to
survive. Two prairie obligates, the pawnee skippers and
the ottoe skippers, are rare species that can still be
found in the Loess Hills. |
Return to Loess Hills Safari Menu
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