Monarch butterfly
Image: AndreJustAndre (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, forest edges, roadsides
Geographic RangeNorth America, Central America, South America, Australia, New Zealand, and some Pacific islands
Host PlantsCommon Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca), Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata), Butterfly Milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa), Tropical Milkweed (Asclepias curassavica)
Flight PeriodMarch to November in temperate regions (migratory), year-round in tropical areas
Flight Stylegliding
Conservation Statusendangered
Lifecycle NotesMonarchs undergo complete metamorphosis. Females lay single eggs on milkweed plants, which hatch into striped caterpillars that feed exclusively on milkweed. The caterpillar then forms a jade-green chrysalis, from which the adult butterfly emerges.
Identification TipsLook for the distinctive orange and black wing pattern with thick black veins and two rows of small white spots on the black wing margins. Males have a small black spot (androconial patch) on a vein on each hindwing, which females lack.
Description
The Monarch butterfly is a large, iconic butterfly with bright orange wings outlined in black, featuring prominent black veins and white spots along the black borders.
