Monarch ButterflyDanaus plexippus
Some would call this butterfly royalty
Listed as endangered. Rarely seen in the field, and all the more worth documenting.
About this species
- Length
- 2.8 in
- Wingspan
- 4 in
From our Collectors' field notes
Diet
Caterpillars exclusively eat milkweed leaves. Adults transition to sipping only wildflower nectar.
Defense
Ingested milkweed toxins by the caterpillars make them foul-tasting to birds. The adults' bright orange wings act as a clear visual warning.
Migration
Every autumn, millions embark on a 3,000-mile journey to winter in the warm mountain forests of Mexico.
Chrysalis
The crys chrissa pupa of the Monarch looks like a polished jade pendant dotted with gold specks.
Field Marks
Males feature a tiny black scent dot on each lower wing. Females lack these dots but have noticeably thicker, darker wing veins.