Monarch butterfly
Image: Hansmuller (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Common NameMonarch butterfly
Scientific NameDanaus plexippus
FamilyNymphalidae
SubfamilyDanainae
Wingspan (mm)95
Wing Patternstriped
Primary Colorsorange, black, white
HabitatOpen fields, meadows, gardens, roadsides, forest edges
Geographic RangeNorth America, Central America, South America, Australia, New Zealand, some Pacific islands, and parts of Europe
Host Plantsmilkweed (Asclepias spp.)
Flight PeriodSpring to fall in temperate zones, year-round in tropical areas
Flight Stylegliding
Conservation Statusendangered
Lifecycle NotesMonarchs undergo complete metamorphosis, laying eggs on milkweed plants. Larvae (caterpillars) feed exclusively on milkweed, then pupate into a distinctive green chrysalis before emerging as adult butterflies.
Identification TipsRecognizable by its bright orange wings with prominent black veins and a black border adorned with white spots. Often confused with the Viceroy butterfly, which has an additional black line across the hindwing.
Description
This image features a large-scale artwork of a butterfly on a building. The artwork depicts a butterfly with prominent venation and a scalloped wing shape, characteristic of a Monarch butterfly.
