What do Monarch butterflies eat?

Answer by  nrw24 (53)

As caterpillars, monarch butterflies feed on the milkweed plant, which countain poisonous compounds known as cardenolide aglycones. These compounds retain their toxicity, and persist in the insects body through metamorphosis, making the adult butterfly poisonous as well. As adults, monarch butterflies feed on the nectar from a variety of different flowering plants, much like other butterfly species.

Answer by  Ilsieh83 (248)

The larvae, the caterpillars, of monarch butterflies only eat milkweed. All the vitamins for a caterpillar to grow and transform into a beautiful butterfly are in it. The adult monarch butterflies don't eat milkweed. They consume different things like nectar, water and liquids from fruits like banana, oranges and watermelon.

Answer by  GetDark (67)

Monarch butterflies essentially eat and consume necture from plants. Common plants whose necture is a source of food for monarch butterflies include milkweed, hemp, thistles, golden rods, red cloverand, and lilac.