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Image Number D4027-1 |
A monarch butterfly, Danaus plexippus, feeds on sunflower nectar. Monarchs are poisonous to their predators, such as birds, because as caterpillars they ingest large amounts of Asclepias plants, primarily milkweed, which contain steroids that act in heart-arresting ways. The steroids remain and are redistributed when a caterpillar turns into a butterfly.
Photo by Peggy Greb.
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