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A magnetic compass aids monarch butterfly migration

Author

Listed:
  • Patrick A Guerra

    (University of Massachusetts Medical School, 364 Plantation Street)

  • Robert J Gegear

    (Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Gateway Park, 60 Prescott Street)

  • Steven M Reppert

    (University of Massachusetts Medical School, 364 Plantation Street)

Abstract

Convincing evidence that migrant monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus) use a magnetic compass to aid their fall migration has been lacking from the spectacular navigational capabilities of this species. Here we use flight simulator studies to show that migrants indeed possess an inclination magnetic compass to help direct their flight equatorward in the fall. The use of this inclination compass is light-dependent utilizing ultraviolet-A/blue light between 380 and 420 nm. Notably, the significance of light

Suggested Citation

  • Patrick A Guerra & Robert J Gegear & Steven M Reppert, 2014. "A magnetic compass aids monarch butterfly migration," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 5(1), pages 1-8, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:5:y:2014:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms5164
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms5164
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    Cited by:

    1. Fatik Baran Mandal & Bikash Chakroborty, 2022. "Magnetoreception In Fruit Flies, Bees And Ants," Acta Scientifica Malaysia (ASM), Zibeline International Publishing, vol. 6(1), pages 10-16, March.

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