Is the relationship between monarch butterflies and milkweed commensalism?

Is the relationship between monarch butterflies and milkweed commensalism?

Monarch butterflies and milkweed are an example of commensalism. Commensalism is a relationship between two organisms in which one benefits from the other without causing harm to it. The commensal organism obtains food, shelter, locomotion, or support.

What are 2 examples of commensalism?

Examples of Commensalism

• Remora fish have a disk on their heads that makes them able to attach to larger animals, such as sharks, mantas, and whales.
• Nurse plants are larger plants that offer protection to seedlings from the weather and herbivores, giving them an opportunity to grow.
• Tree frogs use plants as protection.

What do monarch butterflies do with milkweed?

In fact, the monarch butterfly is also known as the “milkweed butterfly.” The milkweed plant provides all the nourishment the monarch needs to transform the Monarch caterpillar into the adult butterfly.

What is the best example of commensalism?

One of the best-known examples of a commensal is the remora (family Echineidae) that rides attached to sharks and other fishes. Remoras have evolved on the top of their heads a flat oval sucking disk structure that adheres to the bodies of their hosts.

Why are monarch butterflies attracted to milkweed?

Many flowers — especially native plants — are terrific sources of nectar for monarch butterflies, but milkweed leaves are the only food monarch caterpillars eat. Monarchs butterflies lay their eggs on milkweed plants so the tiny caterpillars will have access to food the moment they hatch.

Is a mistletoe a commensalism?

The specific kind of symbiotic relationship exhibited between mistletoes and spruces is that of parasitism. Most of the mistletoe’s sustenance comes from parasitism, but the plant is capable of limited photosynthesis on its own. The seeds of mistletoe are sticky and “explode” from ripe fruit in late summer.

Is a bee and a flower commensalism?

Mutualism is when two organisms are involved. For example, A bumble bee and a flower. The bee lands on the flower and starts to take the pollen from the flower. Lastly commensalism is when its nither harming or benefiting from the organism.

What are the three types of commensalism?

Summary: Commensalism Definition Biology The three main types of commensalism are inquilinism, metabiosis, and phoresy.

What type of milkweed do monarch butterflies like?

Three species have particularly wide ranges and are good choices in most regions: common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca), swamp milkweed (A. incarnata), and butterflyweed (A. tuberosa).

How do butterflies find milkweed?

Monarchs find milkweed using their sense of sight and smell (sensory receptors). They have sensory receptors in their antennae and front legs. Females will ‘taste’ milkweed with their feet prior to laying eggs on it.

What is an example of commensalism with humans?

Bacteria, fungi, and mites form the commensal flora and fauna on the skin. The fungi Malassezia furfur and Candida albicans are found on the skin of some individuals. All humans can act as hosts to skin mites such as Demodex folliculorum and Demonex brevis.

What type of plants do monarch butterflies like?

Milkweed
Milkweed is the host plant for the monarch butterfly. Without milkweed, the larva would not be able to develop into a butterfly. Monarchs use a variety of milkweeds. Monarch larvae ,or caterpillars, feed exclusively on milkweed leaves.

What is the symbiotic relationship between monarch butterflies and milkweed?

There is a symbiotic relationship between the native milkweed plants and the monarch. The monarch butterflies enjoy the nectar from the flowers and help pollinate the plants. The successful pollination allows the milkweed to thrive and thus provide more nurseries for the crucial ‘fourth generation’ of monarchs.

Do monarch caterpillars eat anything besides milkweed?

Actually, no. Monarch caterpillars do only eat plants in the Milkweed family ( Asclepias spp), so if we want to help them out in our wildlife gardens, we still need to add these plants to our gardens. Monarch caterpillars do not feed on tomato plants, despite what may seem like circumstantial evidence to the contrary.

What do butterflies like milkweed?

as well as other milkweed species are also favorites of butterflies, bees, and other insects that are nectar feeders , for their reliable, sweet, high energy food. Butterflies benefit from the food offered by milkweeds, and in return they do help the plants with pollination, but they are not the most successful pollinators of milkweeds.

Do Butterflies like milkweed?

Monarch butterflies only lay their eggs on milkweed, and caterpillars only eat milkweed. But humans don t seem to like milkweed very much and are cutting it down for various reasons. Sometimes humans cut down milkweed in order to build houses, buildings and streets. Sometimes the milkweed is cut down when trees are removed to harvest the wood.