Multigenerational-migration
Guides
Danaus plexippus
Monarch, Monarch butterfly, Milkweed, Common tiger, Wanderer, Black veined brown
The monarch butterfly is a large, migratory milkweed butterfly with distinctive orange, black, and white wing patterns. It is best known for its spectacular multigenerational migration between overwintering sites in central Mexico and coastal California and breeding grounds across North America. The species has declined dramatically in recent decades, with the western population declining 99.9% and the eastern population declining 84% since the 1990s. It was listed as Endangered by the IUCN in 2022, though it remains a candidate for listing under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. Conservation efforts focus on protecting milkweed host plants and overwintering habitat.