Monarch butterfly
Image: Fibonacci Blue from Minnesota, USA (CC BY 2.0)
Common NameMonarch butterfly
Scientific NameDanaus plexippus
FamilyNymphalidae
SubfamilyDanainae
Wingspan (mm)89
Primary Colorsorange, black, white
HabitatOpen fields, meadows, grasslands, roadsides, gardens, forest edges
Geographic RangeNorth America, Central America, South America, Australia, New Zealand, some Pacific islands
Host Plantsmilkweed (Asclepias spp.)
Flight PeriodMarch to October (temperate regions), year-round (tropical regions)
Conservation Statusendangered
Lifecycle NotesMonarchs undergo complete metamorphosis: eggs are laid on milkweed, hatching into striped caterpillars that feed on the plant. Caterpillars then form a jade-green chrysalis, from which the adult butterfly emerges.
Identification TipsKey features include large size, bright orange wings with thick black veins, and a black border with two rows of white spots. Males have a distinct black spot (androconium) on a vein on each hindwing.
Description
The image displays large, vibrant orange wings with prominent black veins and a black border adorned with white spots, characteristic of a Monarch butterfly. These are costume wings worn by a person.
