monarch Butterflies coevolution with milkweed

Monarch Butterflies (Danaus plexippus) and Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa) Monarch Butterflies and Butterfly Weed, a type of milkweed, have coevolved as plant and pollinator. This means that they both rely on one another to survive. Milkweed is the primary source of nutrition for monarchs. Monarchs only eat Asclepias tuberosa a particular species of Milkweed. The monarch relies on toxins in the milkweed to fend off predators such as birds. The toxic tendencies of the milkweed …

…Canada have attempted to eliminate them from roadside areas which has caused a great decline in the plants population. The Butterfly weed relies on the monarch to pollinate it. The monarch spreads the pollen from one milkweed plant to another. This ensures that more milkweed will be produced. In turn the milkweed provides nutrition for the monarch and it gives them a place to lay their eggs. This is the co-evolution of plant and pollinator.