Monarch butterfly
Image: Tony Hisgett from Birmingham, UK (CC BY 2.0)
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, parts of Europe
Host Plantsmilkweed (Asclepias spp.)
Flight PeriodMay to October (North America, multiple generations)
Lifecycle NotesEggs are laid on milkweed plants, hatching into striped caterpillars that feed on the leaves. The caterpillar then forms a jade green chrysalis with gold spots, from which the adult butterfly emerges.
Identification TipsEasily identified by its distinctive orange and black wing pattern with black veins and white spots along the black margins. Can be distinguished from the similar Viceroy butterfly by the absence of a black line across the hindwings.
Description
A large, iconic butterfly with vibrant orange wings featuring prominent black veins and a black border adorned with white spots.
