Monarch butterfly
Image: Another Believer (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Common NameMonarch butterfly
Scientific NameDanaus plexippus
FamilyNymphalidae
SubfamilyDanainae
Wingspan (mm)95
Primary Colorsorange, black, white
HabitatOpen fields, meadows, gardens, roadsides, agricultural areas, forest edges
Geographic RangeNorth America (Canada, US, Mexico), Central America, parts of South America, Australia, New Zealand, some Pacific islands
Host PlantsAsclepias (milkweed) species
Flight PeriodMay to October (multiple generations in temperate regions), year-round in tropical areas
Conservation Statusendangered
Lifecycle NotesUndergoes complete metamorphosis; eggs are laid on milkweed, hatching into striped caterpillars that feed on the plant, then pupating into a jade green chrysalis with gold spots before emerging as an adult butterfly. Famous for its multi-generational migration.
Identification TipsDistinguished by its vibrant orange wings with thick black veins and a black margin dotted with white spots. Often confused with the Viceroy, but Monarchs lack the single black line across the hindwing that Viceroys possess.
Description
A large, iconic butterfly with bright orange wings featuring prominent black veins and a black border adorned with two series of small white spots.
