How monarch butterfly develop ability to protect itself by releasing poison?

By feeding on a poisonous weed.

The correct answer is option (3) - By feeding on a poisonous weed.

By feeding on a poisonous weed.

Explanation:

• Monarch butterfly caterpillars feed on milkweed (a poisonous weed).
• Milkweed contains cardiac glycosides (cardenolides), which are toxic to most predators.
• The caterpillars store these toxins in their bodies, and even after metamorphosis into butterflies, they retain the poison, making them unpalatable and harmful to predators.

Option Analysis:

• Poisonous mosquito – Incorrect. No such interaction exists.
• Poisonous mulberry – Incorrect. Monarchs don't feed on mulberry.
• Poisonous weed – Correct .Refers to milkweed, which is correct.
• Basidiomycetes – Incorrect . A group of fungi; irrelevant here.