How did this butterfly find such a tiny plant? Monarchs use a combination of visual and chemical cues to find milkweed. Once they land on a plant, they use sensory organs on their feet and heads to identify milkweed, and probably the quality of the milkweed.

Laying eggs on newly-emerging milkweed at Owl's Hill Nature Sanctuary in Brentwood, Tennessee.
Image courtesy of Nancy Garden

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