Monarch
Danaus plexippus (Linnaeus, 1758)
Family: Nymphalidae
Subfamily: 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. The Viceroy butterfly (Limenitis archippus) is a Mullerian mimic; it has similar coloration and is also distasteful.
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 singly 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. A few overwinter along the Gulf coast or south Atlantic coast. Along the way, Monarchs stop to feed on flower nectar and to roost together at night. At the Mexico wintering sites, butterflies roost in trees and form huge aggregations that may have millions of individuals. During the winter the butterflies may take moisture and flower nectar during warm days. Most have mated before they leave for the north in the spring, and females lay eggs along the way. Residents of tropical areas do not migrate but appear to make altitude changes during the dry season.
Flight: In North America during spring and summer there may be 1-3 broods in the north and 4-6 broods in the south. May breed all year in Florida, South Texas, and southeastern California.
Caterpillar Hosts: Milkweeds including common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca), swamp milkweed (A. incarnata), and showy milkweed (A. speciosa); and milkweed vine in the tropics. Most milkweeds contain cardiac glycosides which are stored in the bodies of both the caterpillar and adult. These poisons are distasteful and emetic to birds and other vertebrate predators. After tasting a Monarch, a predator might associate the bright warning colors of the adult or caterpillar with an unpleasant meal, and avoid Monarchs in the future.
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.
Habitat: Many open habitats including fields, meadows, weedy areas, marshes, and roadsides.
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.
Conservation: Overwintering sites in California and Mexico should be protected and conserved.
NCGR: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: Develop conservation and management plans for all wintering sites, migration corridors, and principal breeding areas.
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 49 - 72 of 18466 verified sightings
Observation date: Aug 09, 2023
Submitted by: Roose
Region: Saginaw County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: elsner
Verified date: Jan 17, 2024
Observation date: Jan 15, 2024
Submitted by: Rantuanett
Region: Lee County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jan 16, 2024
Observation date: Jan 16, 2024
Submitted by: Rantuanett
Region: Lee County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jan 16, 2024
Observation date: Jan 16, 2024
Submitted by: Rantuanett
Region: Lee County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jan 16, 2024
Observation date: Jan 11, 2024
Submitted by: kericson
Region: Polk County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jan 12, 2024
Observation date: Jan 06, 2024
Submitted by: mstanek
Region: Santa Barbara County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jan 07, 2024
Observation date: Jan 05, 2024
Submitted by: lello
Region: Lee County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jan 07, 2024
Observation date: Sep 12, 2021
Submitted by: TrailRunner13
Region: Windsor County, Vermont, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jan 07, 2024
Observation date: Jan 05, 2024
Submitted by: Rantuanett
Region: Lee County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jan 05, 2024
Observation date: Dec 30, 2023
Submitted by: Rantuanett
Region: Lee County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Dec 31, 2023
Observation date: Dec 31, 2023
Submitted by: Rantuanett
Region: Lee County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Dec 31, 2023
Observation date: Dec 28, 2023
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Dec 30, 2023
Observation date: Dec 23, 2023
Submitted by: Rantuanett
Region: Lee County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Dec 29, 2023
Observation date: Dec 23, 2023
Submitted by: Rantuanett
Region: Lee County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Dec 29, 2023
Observation date: Dec 15, 2023
Submitted by: mcvaugh
Region: Contra Costa County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Dec 21, 2023
Observation date: Nov 06, 2023
Submitted by: mcvaugh
Region: Contra Costa County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Dec 21, 2023
Observation date: Dec 20, 2023
Submitted by: MECobarruvias
Region: Texas, Nueces County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Dec 20, 2023
Observation date: Jul 26, 2023
Submitted by: mostlynative
Region: Cuyahoga County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Dec 08, 2023
Observation date: Nov 28, 2023
Submitted by: vanila
Region: Alameda County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Dec 03, 2023
Observation date: Nov 30, 2023
Submitted by: Kalehua
Region: Alameda County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Dec 03, 2023
Observation date: Oct 10, 2023
Submitted by: Kalehua
Region: Alameda County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Dec 03, 2023
Observation date: Oct 11, 2023
Submitted by: Kalehua
Region: Alameda County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Dec 03, 2023
Observation date: Oct 16, 2023
Submitted by: Kalehua
Region: Alameda County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Dec 03, 2023
Observation date: Nov 13, 2023
Submitted by: Kalehua
Region: Alameda County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Dec 03, 2023
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