Monarch Medicine.

The article discusses the use of medicinal milkweed by Monarch butterflies. It notes that the parasite Ophryocystis elektroscirrha establishes spores on the body of an adult Monarch that can result to lower ability to mate, shorter life span and impaired flight. It is said that Monarchs concentrate the cardenolides released by milkweeds in their bodies to use as protection. One study shows that infected butterflies lay their eggs on tropical milkweed to limit infection among their offsprings.