How Much Do You Know About Western Monarch Day? Quiz

Western Monarch Day is celebrated on February 5. This day honors the Monarch butterfly's remarkable journey of almost 3000 miles back to California from various parts of the western U.S. as part of their seasonal migration.

The adult monarch emerges from its chrysalis and hangs upside down for several hours. During this time, it pumps fluids and air into its wings, causing them to expand, dry, and stiffen. This process is crucial for the butterfly's ability to fly and function properly as an adult.

According to the Xerces Society, the monarch population in California decreased by 86% in 2018, going from millions of butterflies to tens of thousands. This significant decline underscores the challenges faced by monarch butterflies and highlights the need for conservation efforts to address the factors contributing to population decline.

On July 20, 2022, the International Union for Conservation of Nature added the migratory monarch butterfly (the subspecies common in North America) to its red list of endangered species. This designation reflects the critical status of the species and the urgent need for conservation efforts to protect its habitat and well-being.

The practice of butterfly gardening and creating "monarch waystations" is commonly thought to increase butterfly populations. Efforts to restore falling monarch populations often involve creating environments with suitable plants, particularly milkweed, to support the various stages of the monarch's life cycle.

The name "monarch" is believed to have been given in honor of King William III of England, as the butterfly's main color resembles the king's secondary title, Prince of Orange. This historical connection adds significance to the butterfly's name and highlights the cultural references associated with its nomenclature.

Monarchs undergo complete metamorphosis with four phases in their life cycle: egg, larva (caterpillar), pupa (chrysalis), and adult. Understanding these stages is crucial to appreciating the complexity of their development from egg to a fully-formed butterfly.

Carl Linnaeus first described the monarch butterfly in his Systema Naturae of 1758 and placed it in the genus Papilio. His scientific contribution in describing the species has played a significant role in our understanding of the monarch's taxonomy and characteristics.

Monarchs transition from eggs to adults in around a month during warm summer temperatures and up to seven weeks during cool spring conditions. This can change to more than a month (sometimes 40-50 days too depending on various factors.) This variation highlights the influence of environmental factors on the developmental timeline of monarch butterflies.

By November 2020, the monarch population in California had dropped to fewer than 2,000, representing a 99% collapse over three decades, as reported by the Xerces Society. This alarming decline emphasizes the urgency of conservation measures to protect the habitat and ensure the survival of the monarch butterfly.