Monarch butterflies are not directly poisonous to humans, but they contain toxic compounds called cardenolides or cardiac glycosides due to their larval consumption of Milkweed plants.
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These compounds make the monarchs distasteful and potentially harmful to predators like birds. If a bird consumes a monarch butterfly, it may experience symptoms like vomiting and stomach upset, which teaches the bird to avoid eating monarchs in the future. This adaptation provides the butterflies with a form of chemical defense against potential predators.
![20 Florida-Native Aquatic Milkweed Seeds (Asclepias perennis) for U.S. Southeast](https://www.johnnybutterflyseed.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/5f2a2f73c511b_471101b-1024x768.jpg)
20 Florida-Native Aquatic Milkweed Seeds (Asclepias perennis) for U.S. Southeast
Aquatic Milkweed (Asclepias perennis) is a native perennial that thrives in wet environments. With its beautiful white blossoms and attractive green foliage, it’s an eye-catching addition to any aquatic setting. Florida Native. 20 seeds.
However, for humans, simply touching or handling a Monarch Butterfly is harmless. It’s only when ingested that the butterfly’s toxins could pose a risk, but humans typically don’t eat butterflies. Consuming large amounts of Milkweed directly could be harmful to humans, but the amount of toxins in a single monarch butterfly would likely be insufficient to cause harm. Always exercise caution and avoid eating wild plants or animals without appropriate knowledge.
![Milkweed Seeds](https://www.johnnybutterflyseed.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/seed-row-img9869.webp)
Milkweed Seeds
Seeds for growing plants in the Milkweed genus (Asclepias); required for all Milkweed butterflies, like the Monarch and Queen.