Contact
Toxins in Technicolor? Exploring the Influence of Milkweed Host Plant on Monarch Wing Color & Defense
Monarch butterflies sequester toxins called cardenolides from milkweed host plants. This is signaled to predators via their aposematic orange & black wing coloration. We'll investigate the link between the milkweed species they consume as larvae and the intensity of their orange and black chemical defense signal. Join us at Speciation on Thursday, January 15th, 2026, to explore monarchs, their host plants, and the relationship between the two in time and space across a continental-scale landscape.
Matt Deighton holds an MS in Biology from Western Michigan University, where he conducted research under the mentorship of Dr. Stephen Malcolm to explore the influence of milkweed host plants on monarch butterfly coloration & chemical defense. A dedicated science communicator, Matt has shared his findings at the 2025 International Monarch Science Symposium and through public education initiatives at Frederik Meijer Gardens to advocate for pollinator conservation and essential ecosystem services.