Monarch butterfly (represented as a parade float)
Image: Joe Mabel (on Flickr as Joe Mabel from Seattle, US) (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Common NameMonarch butterfly (represented as a parade float)
Scientific NameDanaus plexippus
FamilyNymphalidae
SubfamilyDanainae
Wingspan (mm)95
Primary Colorsorange, black, white
HabitatOpen fields, meadows, roadsides, gardens
Geographic RangeNorth America, Central America, South America, Australia, New Zealand, some Pacific islands
Host Plantsmilkweed (*Asclepias* spp.)
Flight PeriodVaries by region, generally spring to fall (e.g., March-November in North America)
Conservation Statusendangered
Lifecycle NotesMonarchs undergo complete metamorphosis: egg, larva (caterpillar), pupa (chrysalis), and adult. Larvae are striped yellow, black, and white, feeding exclusively on milkweed plants.
Identification TipsReal Monarch butterflies are identified by their vibrant orange wings with thick black veins and a black border containing two rows of small white spots. Males have a distinct black scent patch on a vein on each hindwing.
Description
This image depicts a large, artificial float designed to resemble a Monarch butterfly, featuring bright orange wings with prominent black veins and white spots along the black margins. The float is part of a parade.
