Flying Through the Sanctuary

This is another quick peek at some of the beautiful wildlife one can observe in the butterfly garden outside of the Outpost at the Fort Wilderness Campground. These three images represent less than 4/1600ths of a second in time, yet reveal something I have never seen before.

The Monarch is one of 17,000 species of butterfly, and is probably the best known of them all. They are extraordinary in many ways, including flying to an altitude of 10,000 feet, and are capable of transatlantic crossings.

Monarchs experience 4 senses: touch, hearing, sight and taste/smell. They sense touch through hair-like structures called tactile setae, which are attached to nerves and extend through sockets in their exoskeleton. (See what looks like a furry mane on the back of this beautiful female as she lifts off). The setae help her sense gravity, wind, and the position of her body parts- all important to know when you are flying.

This final image would suggest that she and her guidance system are functioning just fine. And, with so many species being threatened with loss of habitat, how cool is it that Walt Disney World Horticulturists create and maintain sanctuaries like this one? Cheers.