Monarch Butterfly
Image: Bungur (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, forest edges
Geographic RangeNorth America, Central America, South America, Caribbean, Australia, New Zealand
Host PlantsMilkweed (Asclepias spp.)
Flight PeriodMarch to November (temperate regions), year-round (tropical regions)
Conservation Statusendangered
Lifecycle NotesMonarchs undergo complete metamorphosis: eggs are laid on milkweed, hatching into striped caterpillars, which then form a jade-green chrysalis before emerging as adult butterflies.
Identification TipsLook for large, bright orange wings with distinct black veins and a black border adorned with two rows of white spots; often found near milkweed plants.
Description
A newly emerged Monarch butterfly, with its characteristic vibrant orange wings featuring prominent black veins and white-spotted black borders, is seen resting on a human finger.
