The monarch is often one of the first butterflies we learn about at an early age, which may be why this species seems to hold its own beloved place in our collective appreciation of nature.

Anurag Agrawal spent years collecting information for his book on the relationship between monarchs and milkweed. This flexibility allows the larva to adapt to whichever species of milkweed plant the egg is laid on. If the egg is laid on a sandhill milkweed, which has a very slippery leaf surface, the caterpillar will fall off, so before feeding it will put down a silk mat to hold onto during feeding. A caterpillar will simply feed on this plant. What this means is that the monarch larva can determine the type of milkweed species it is on, in terms of the plant’s defensive mechanism, and adapt its feeding accordingly.Īn example given is the butterfly weed, which has little latex. There is an optimal level for caterpillar diet, and while science has not determined how, the monarch can determine the level before laying an egg.Īnother trait monarch caterpillars exhibit is the what is called phenotypically plastic behavior. Too little, and the monarch larva is susceptible to predators too high, and the plant will kill the monarch larva. One topic I found interesting is the ability of a female monarch to determine the amount of cardenolides in a particular milkweed plant. I would not recommend it for someone interested in a basic overview of the subject, but if you like more scientific-directed information, this book has you covered. While I found the subject interesting, I would caution the reader that this is a very in-depth book.

This is a quality published book with abundant references. The book covers the relationship between the monarch and the milkweed. Monarchs and Milkweed: A Migrating Butterfly, A Poisonous Plant, and Their Remarkable Story of Coevolution. Become a Friend of the Kerr Center: Make a Donation Today!.SARE Professional Development Program (PDP).Oklahoma Beginning Farmer and Rancher Program.Creating a Pollinator-friendly Landscape.Meat Goats at the Kerr Center (2007 – 2012).Sustainable Food and Agriculture Library.Directory of Sustainable Food and Agriculture Organizations and Programs.Closer to Home: Healthier Food, Farms and Families in Oklahoma.Essential Steps to a Sustainable Agriculture.

Monarchs and Milkweed by Anurag Agrawal