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 241 - 264 of 18532 verified sightings
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Observation date: Sep 17, 2023
Submitted by: eweber019
Region: Douglas County, Nebraska, United States
Verified by: Emily Geest
Verified date: Sep 18, 2023
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Observation date: Sep 16, 2023
Submitted by: rtsmith
Region: Centre County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Sep 17, 2023
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Observation date: Sep 03, 2023
Submitted by: Team-Chick
Region: Virginia, York County, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Sep 16, 2023
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Observation date: Sep 15, 2023
Submitted by: Steven Wilson
Region: Raleigh County, West Virginia, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Sep 15, 2023
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Observation date: Sep 13, 2023
Submitted by: rtsmith
Region: Centre County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Sep 14, 2023
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Observation date: Sep 09, 2023
Submitted by: Laurie Mac
Region: Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Sep 12, 2023
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Observation date: Sep 12, 2023
Submitted by: brnadtte
Region: Craven County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Sep 12, 2023
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Observation date: Sep 11, 2023
Submitted by: Colleen K
Region: Robertson County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Sep 11, 2023
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Observation date: Sep 08, 2023
Submitted by: Tuesday
Region: Asotin County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Sep 10, 2023
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/p9090176.jpg?itok=uFruksq3)
Observation date: Sep 09, 2023
Submitted by: mstanek
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Sep 10, 2023
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/monarch_0.png?itok=5uEi65jR)
Observation date: Sep 08, 2023
Submitted by: HeyLady
Region: Frederick County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Sep 10, 2023
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/b75d82a3-27ee-45a6-954e-6a504771f129.jpeg?itok=4BxVzY7_)
Observation date: Sep 04, 2023
Submitted by: jmgesell
Region: Northampton County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Sep 10, 2023
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Observation date: Sep 09, 2023
Submitted by: hclancy
Region: Bronx County, New York, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Sep 09, 2023
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Observation date: Aug 22, 2023
Submitted by: Deborah Paulsen
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Sep 07, 2023
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Observation date: Sep 03, 2023
Submitted by: Grantheath
Region: Shasta County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Sep 06, 2023
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Observation date: Sep 02, 2023
Submitted by: Eric Hartshaw
Region: Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Sep 06, 2023
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/img_3271_1.jpeg?itok=GXRVG0b3)
Observation date: Sep 05, 2023
Submitted by: RLS
Region: Monroe County, New York, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Sep 05, 2023
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/monarch_laying_egg.jpg?itok=gv27jEPL)
Observation date: Aug 27, 2023
Submitted by: SandraWilliams
Region: Cumberland County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Sep 05, 2023
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/2023_09_03_monarch_fall_phlox.jpg?itok=bX0Dw9n_)
Observation date: Sep 03, 2023
Submitted by: maryjanzen
Region: Centre County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Sep 04, 2023
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Observation date: Aug 21, 2023
Submitted by: hasfitz5
Region: Washoe County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Sep 02, 2023
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Observation date: Sep 01, 2023
Submitted by: RLS
Region: Monroe County, New York, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Sep 02, 2023
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Observation date: Aug 31, 2023
Submitted by: Sometimes
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Sep 02, 2023
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/monarch1_83123.jpg?itok=CmZ2SJ-X)
Observation date: Aug 31, 2023
Submitted by: cevmendo
Region: Mendocino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Sep 01, 2023
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/dsc_1204-2.jpg?itok=cAReGLGM)
Observation date: Aug 31, 2023
Submitted by: Cascade Colors
Region: Cumberland County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Aug 31, 2023
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