Monarch
Common NameMonarch
Scientific NameDanaus plexippus
FamilyNymphalidae
SubfamilyDanainae
Wingspan (mm)90
Wing Patternstriped
Primary Colorsorange, black, white
HabitatMeadows, grasslands, open fields, gardens, roadsides, forest edges
Geographic RangeNorth America, Central America, South America, Australia, New Zealand, some Pacific Islands
Host PlantsAsclepias tuberosa, Asclepias syriaca, Asclepias incarnata, Asclepias curassavica
Flight PeriodMarch to October (migratory populations), year-round (non-migratory populations)
Flight Stylegliding
Conservation Statusendangered
Lifecycle NotesMonarchs undergo complete metamorphosis: eggs are laid on milkweed, hatch into striped caterpillars, which then form a jade green chrysalis, and finally emerge as adult butterflies.
Identification TipsLook for large orange wings with prominent black veins and a black border adorned with two rows of small white spots. Males have a small black spot on each hindwing (scent patch) that females lack.
Description
The Monarch butterfly is a large, iconic butterfly with vibrant orange wings outlined and veined in black, featuring white spots along the black borders.
