This article first appear in Issue 14 of our detached digital magazineCURIOUS .
Monarchs are the only butterfly stroke coinage known to make an annual two - way migration like birds , with a round - trip distance of around 8,000 kilometers ( 5,000 mi ) . Many have wondered how a low insect could live such a journey , but a recent survey published inPLOS ONEhas suggested that it may come down to wing colour .
Researchers from the University of Georgia and New Mexico Tech psychoanalyse the wings of most 400 wild monarchs , pull in them at unlike stages of their migration and measure their color proportions . The result designate that the monarchs that migrate successfully tend to have less black and more white pigment on their wings .
“ We attempt this project to learn how such a little animal can make such a successful long - distance flight , ” said lead source Andy Davis , an assistant researcher in UGA ’s Odum School of Ecology , in astatement . “ We actually went into this mentation that monarchs with more dark offstage would be more successful at transmigrate because dark surfaces can improve flight efficiency . But we rule the opposite . ”
Subscribe to our newsletterand get every issue of CURIOUS delivered to your inbox free each month.
The authors suggest that as the coolness of the large white muscae volitantes contrast with the black along their wing , it may create miniature eddies that give the butterflies a boost by reduce puff . As for why the sovereign developed this food color in the first place , it ’s propose that sunlight exposure could play a role .
“ The amount of solar energy monarch butterfly are receiving along their journeying is uttermost , particularly since they fly with their wings spread open most of the time , ” Davis explain . “ After seduce this migration for thou of years , they figure out a way to capitalize on that solar muscularity to improve their aeriform efficiency . ”
CURIOUS magazineis a digital magazine from IFLScience sport interviews , expert , deep diving , fun facts , news show , book excerpts , and much more . Issue 17 is out now .
