Monarch butterfly
Image: 999real (CC0)
Common NameMonarch butterfly
Scientific NameDanaus plexippus
FamilyNymphalidae
SubfamilyDanainae
Wingspan (mm)95
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 Plantsmilkweed (Asclepias spp.)
Flight PeriodMay to October (North America, multiple generations)
Conservation Statusendangered
Lifecycle NotesUndergoes complete metamorphosis; eggs are laid on milkweed, larvae are striped caterpillars, pupates into a jade-green chrysalis with gold spots, and emerges as an adult butterfly.
Identification TipsRecognizable by its bright orange wings with prominent black veins and a black border adorned with white spots. Males have a small black scent patch (androconium) on their hindwings, which females lack.
Description
A large, iconic butterfly with vibrant orange wings distinctly outlined and veined in black, featuring white spots along the black margins.
