Monarch butterfly
Image: Andrzej Otrębski (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Common NameMonarch butterfly
Scientific NameDanaus plexippus
FamilyNymphalidae
SubfamilyDanainae
Wingspan (mm)95
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 Plantsmilkweed (Asclepias spp.)
Flight PeriodMarch to October (in temperate regions), year-round in tropical areas
Conservation Statusendangered
Lifecycle NotesUndergoes complete metamorphosis; eggs are laid on milkweed, hatch into striped caterpillars, which then pupate into a jade-green chrysalis with gold spots before emerging as adult butterflies.
Identification TipsEasily identified by its distinctive orange and black wing pattern with thick black veins and white spots on the black margins; often seen nectaring on flowers or migrating in large groups.
Description
A large, iconic butterfly with bright orange wings featuring prominent black veins and a black border adorned with white spots.
