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Monarchs are poisonous because they eat plants that are themselves poisonous.
There's a distinction to be made between "poisonous" and "venomous". Monarchs do not produce any venom, nor do they sting or bite (they're actually not even capable of "biting" as adults; they live solely on liquids) you have to eat them for the poisons to get into your system.
Some animals do not eat Monarch Butterflies (caterpillar, chrysalises, or adults) because the poisons in their bodies taste terrible to them. Other animals do eat them. They are not poisonous to touch. They do have poisons in their bodies that are from their host plant, milkweed.
Sherwood Ritchie
Wiki User
∙ 6y agoMonarchs are poisonous because they eat plants that are themselves poisonous.
There's a distinction to be made between "poisonous" and "venomous". Monarchs do not produce any venom, nor do they sting or bite (they're actually not even capable of "biting" as adults; they live solely on liquids) you have to eat them for the poisons to get into your system.
Some animals do not eat Monarch Butterflies (caterpillar, chrysalises, or adults) because the poisons in their bodies taste terrible to them. Other animals do eat them. They are not poisonous to touch. They do have poisons in their bodies that are from their host plant, milkweed.
Wiki User
∙ 12y agoNo
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Why do most birds avoid monarch butterflies?
they are poisonous. As beautiful as they are. It is in fact true that Monarch's are extremely poisonous.
Is the nectar that monarch butterflies eat poisonous to humans?
no
Why are monarch butterflies poisonous?
because they eat milk weed a poisonous plant which makes them poisonous
How have monarch butterflies adapted to their environment?
Monarch butterflies have adapted to be poisonous to their most serious predators. This makes them taste bad to birds, which are a problem for other types of butterflies.
What animals eat milkweeds?
Monarch Butterflies, that's what makes them poisonous.
Are monarch butterflies poisonous to dogs?
Some butterflies such as the Monarch, eat poisonous plants as caterpillars, resulting in the butterfly being toxic. Insect eaters like birds seem to know not to eat these butterflies. Monarchs are most likely poisonous to some extent in dogs.
Do butterflies protect themselfs?
Butterflies are almost defenseless. They use camouflage to hide from predators and some species are poisonous to predators. Poisonous butterflies include the Monarch and the small postman.
Which behavior does the viceroy use to deter birds that would otherwise eat it?
Viceroy butterflies are not poisonous, but they look just like poisonous monarch butterflies.
If the monarch butterfly is killed by a predator how does it keep others from being killed?
It doesn't, monarch butterflies are poisonous and predators tend to stay away from poisonous things.
Can a butterfly poison a human?
According to an Internet search, there is no butterfly that is so poisonous that it would kill a human. There are butterflies that are extremely distasteful to birds and other such predators due to the larva's consumption of poisonous plants. The Monarch butterfly is a well-known example of that. The larva eat milkweed.
What behavior does the viceroy use to deter birds that would otherwise eat it?
Viceroy butterflies are not poisonous, but they look just like poisonous monarch butterflies. Which behavior does the viceroy use to deter birds that would otherwise eat it
What is a monarch butterflies adaptation?
Adaptations seen in monarch butterflies are that they are poisonous to predators because they eat mostly milkweed. Also, the markings on their wings show animals they are dangerous to eat.
