Another three monarch butterflies hatched in our butterfly house today bringing our grand total to 185 successful caterpillars to butterflies. We have released 18 monarch butterflies so far this month.

The last monarch released was a male, due to the two black dots on the lower wing.

The spots are scent glands, which help the males attract the female butterflies.

At the tip of the abdomen are short hair pencils on the male monarch butterfly, which helps in spreading pheromones during courtship through the wing glands. When the female lays its eggs they have already been fertilized with sperm, which have been stored in her body.