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| Monarch - Danaus plexippus (Linnaeus, 1758 ) |
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Family: Brush-footed Butterflies (Nymphalidae)
Subfamily: Milkweed Butterflies (Danainae )
Identification: Upperside of male is bright orange with wide black borders and black veins; hindwing has a patch of scent scales. Upperside of female is orange-brown with wide black borders and blurred black veins. Both sexes have white spots on borders and apex.
Wing span: 3 3/8 - 4 7/8 inches (8.6 - 12.4 cm)
Life history: Adults warm up by basking dorsally (with their wings open and toward the sun). Females lay eggs under the host leaves; caterpillars eat leaves and flowers. Adults make massive migrations from August-October, flying thousands of miles south to hibernate along the California coast and in central Mexico. Residents of tropical areas do not migrate but appear to make altitude changes during the dry season.
Habitat: Many open habitats including fields, meadows, weedy areas, marshes, and roadsides.
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Caterpillar hosts: Milkweeds including common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca), swamp milkweed (A. incarnata), and showy milkweed (A. speciosa); and milkweed vine in the tropics.
Adult food: Nectar from all milkweeds. Early in the season before milkweeds bloom, Monarchs visit a variety of flowers including dogbane, lilac, red clover, lantana, and thistles. In the fall adults visit composites including goldenrods, blazing stars, ironweed, and tickseed sunflower.
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Range: Southern Canada south through all of the United States, Central America, and most of South America. Also present in Australia, Hawaii, and other Pacific Islands.
30002
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