tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4539448463310978123.post8379087685156259353..comments2024-03-14T14:08:04.962-04:00Comments on The 3 Foragers: Foraging for Wild, Natural, Organic Food: MilkweedThe 3 Foragershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10095365543705594358noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4539448463310978123.post-14663546556352120492017-02-22T11:37:39.236-05:002017-02-22T11:37:39.236-05:00Hi, my name is Teresa and I am a graduate student ...Hi, my name is Teresa and I am a graduate student at Iowa State University. I'm completing my degree in Entomology and focus specifically on Monarch Butterflies. I currently do research with monarchs and how they use milkweed. I wanted to let you know that there are 28 different kinds of milkweed that monarchs use so common milkweed, asclepias syriaca, is not the only one. They also grow all over the central part of North America into Canada and Mexico. Every region has a different variety of species, but common milkweed definitely grows all over North America. <br /><br />As per the toxicity, they are filled with compounds called cardiac glycocides or cardenolides. The monarch actually uses these compounds it acquired as a caterpillar to protect itself from being consumed by prey. Birds are recorded to spit out monarchs after taking a bite, because of the bitter taste. With humans it might be a different case; some large mammals who consume large amounts of milkweed also get sick from the compounds. Some milkweed species also have a higher percentage of these compounds than other species so good job being careful anyway. But like they sound, they affect the heart by causing it to contract faster, so quantity matters. <br /><br />Other than that, cool exploration with trying to eat milkweed! Teresanoreply@blogger.com