Monarch
Image: Mutney (CC0)
Common NameMonarch
Scientific NameDanaus plexippus
FamilyNymphalidae
SubfamilyDanainae
Wingspan (mm)95
Primary Colorsorange, black, white
HabitatMeadows, grasslands, open fields, gardens, forest edges, roadsides
Geographic RangeNorth America, Central America, South America, Australia, New Zealand, some Pacific Islands
Host Plantsmilkweed (Asclepias spp.)
Flight PeriodMay to October (in temperate North America, year-round in tropical regions)
Conservation Statusendangered
Lifecycle NotesMonarchs undergo complete metamorphosis, laying eggs on milkweed plants. Caterpillars feed exclusively on milkweed, then form a jade-green chrysalis before emerging as adult butterflies. They are famous for their multi-generational annual migration.
Identification TipsDistinguished by its bright orange wings with thick black veins and a black border featuring two rows of small white spots. Males have a small, raised black spot (androconium) on a vein on each hindwing, which females lack.
Description
A large, iconic butterfly with vibrant orange wings, prominent black veins, and a black border adorned with small white spots.
