Monarch Butterfly

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Danaus plexippus: //ˈdæ.nɔːs ˈplɛk.sɪ.pəs//

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Images

Summary

Danaus plexippus, commonly known as the monarch butterfly, is an iconic milkweed butterfly celebrated for its migratory behavior and striking coloration. It undergoes a complex life cycle with significant ecological and cultural importance.

Physical Characteristics

Wingspan 8.6-10.5 cm; large butterflies with conspicuous black veins on orange wings. Males have scent-scale patches on hindwings that are prominent when wings are open. Larvae display alternating black, white, and yellow bands with long black filaments at both ends.

Identification Tips

Adults are recognizable by their distinctive black and orange pattern with a wingspan of 8.9-10.2 cm. Males have a black spot on each hindwing, while females are often darker with wider veins.

Habitat

Open areas with flowers and host plants; agricultural fields, pasture land, gardens, and roadsides in North America; all year in tropical regions.

Distribution

Much of temperate North America, northern South America, and some islands in the Pacific and Australia (introduced).

Diet

Adult monarchs take nectar from various flowers; caterpillars feed exclusively on milkweed (family Asclepiadaceae).

Life Cycle

Complete metamorphosis with four life stages: egg, larva (caterpillar), pupa (chrysalis), and adult.

Reproduction

Females lay 300 to 500 eggs singly on the underside of milkweed leaves. They often mate multiple times, which increases egg-laying capacity.

Predators

Larvae and adults are prey for birds such as black-backed orioles and black-headed grosbeaks, as well as other insects like predatory wasps and various hemipteran bugs.

Conservation Status

Endangered (as classified by IUCN in 2022), but a petition in 2023 changed the status to vulnerable.

Ecosystem Role

Pollinators, important for maintaining the health of floral ecosystems.

Economic Impact

Prominent in nature-based tourism, especially in overwintering locations in Mexico and California.

Cultural Significance

The state insect of multiple U.S. states; popular among butterfly enthusiasts and in educational settings.

Evolution

First described by Carl Linnaeus in 1758; underwent reclassification and is closely studied regarding genetic basis for migration and mimicry.

Similar Taxa

• Viceroy butterfly (Limenitis archippus) - a Müllerian mimic.

Misconceptions

Monarchs are often confused with viceroy butterflies, which are not actually a sub-species but a different species altogether that is smaller and has distinct wing patterns.

Tags

• Danaus plexippus
• Monarch Butterfly
• Milkweed
• Lepidoptera
• Conservation