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.
Get your BAMONA Gear!
Please donate!
We depend on donations to keep Butterflies and Moths of North America freely available. We want to express our gratitude to all who showed their support by making a contribution this year. You can donate to support this project at any time.
Advertise with us!
Do you have a product or service that you think would interest BAMONA users? If you would like to advertise on this website, contact us by email, or use the contact form and select the "Advertising" category.
Verified Sightings
Displaying 193 - 216 of 18532 verified sightings
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/monarch092923creeeksidemonterio.jpg?itok=sJzjnwbG)
Observation date: Sep 29, 2023
Submitted by: Lisahug
Region: Sonoma County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Nov 21, 2023
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/dsc07791_0.jpg?itok=ub_C8XiT)
Observation date: Nov 08, 2023
Submitted by: Cactuswren1976
Region: Santa Fe County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Nov 15, 2023
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/monarch_266.jpg?itok=9g8JhyFe)
Observation date: Nov 08, 2023
Submitted by: Ghesser
Region: Alameda County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Nov 13, 2023
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/20231109.heusercasepark.montgomerypa.moncarch.1c.jpg?itok=jsIgg7Pb)
Observation date: Nov 09, 2023
Submitted by: kristenej
Region: Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Nov 13, 2023
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/1025c833-f7d9-4b67-855b-e6404bccd542.jpeg?itok=PuXwp0Bv)
Observation date: Nov 04, 2023
Submitted by: kericson
Region: Polk County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Nov 11, 2023
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/img_0066_2_0.jpg?itok=-OiNbPLN)
Observation date: Nov 03, 2023
Submitted by: chneal
Region: Los Alamos County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Nov 10, 2023
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/img_5962.jpeg?itok=QlCT1QGB)
Observation date: May 27, 2023
Submitted by: kericson
Region: Polk County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Nov 09, 2023
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/jv-1966.jpg?itok=fLCAyiFE)
Observation date: Nov 04, 2023
Submitted by: Mapper
Region: Johnson County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Nov 08, 2023
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/dsc07253_0.jpg?itok=w-ATX0ei)
Observation date: Oct 26, 2023
Submitted by: Cactuswren1976
Region: Cochise County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Nov 04, 2023
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/img_5201.jpeg?itok=yX7DxT9e)
Observation date: Oct 11, 2023
Submitted by: quinn_rose
Region: Alameda County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 31, 2023
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/img_9550.jpeg?itok=jYRng5O0)
Observation date: Sep 17, 2023
Submitted by: LukaCustoms
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Oct 31, 2023
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/dfagan_monarch_101623_courthouse_wash.jpg?itok=5uf_SZKW)
Observation date: Oct 20, 2023
Submitted by: dfagan746
Region: Grand County, Utah, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Oct 30, 2023
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/jv-1860.jpg?itok=pykvG-No)
Observation date: Oct 25, 2023
Submitted by: Mapper
Region: Johnson County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Oct 30, 2023
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/img_4072.jpeg?itok=VFHNlDRS)
Observation date: Oct 25, 2023
Submitted by: Lwilliams8480
Region: Maricopa County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Oct 28, 2023
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/img_4017_0.jpeg?itok=jCepe1s5)
Observation date: Oct 22, 2023
Submitted by: Lwilliams8480
Region: Maricopa County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Oct 28, 2023
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/img_4120_0.jpeg?itok=Q2r84yzn)
Observation date: Oct 28, 2023
Submitted by: Lwilliams8480
Region: Maricopa County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Oct 28, 2023
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/bb65f1ea-7d39-432a-8b85-bb72e9230bd6.jpeg?itok=CWLWhq3y)
Observation date: Oct 13, 2023
Submitted by: Jenmiller81
Region: Escambia County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Oct 27, 2023
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/img_3097_monarch_danaus_plexippus_on_a_sunflower_in_the_garden.jpg?itok=iwqR4FCm)
Observation date: Sep 23, 2023
Submitted by: NikkiM
Region: Yellowstone County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Oct 23, 2023
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/img_9460.jpeg?itok=Ir7z9Cdt)
Observation date: Oct 21, 2023
Submitted by: Seth Mueller
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 22, 2023
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/img_9451.jpeg?itok=CjrJCpF1)
Observation date: Oct 21, 2023
Submitted by: Seth Mueller
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 22, 2023
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/20231022_132450.jpg?itok=ojoLHZpc)
Observation date: Oct 22, 2023
Submitted by: therapypetz
Region: Broward County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Oct 22, 2023
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/00652501-0306-472f-8007-a0ea134ba9cb.jpeg?itok=IAdfBIJ2)
Observation date: Oct 18, 2023
Submitted by: SDozzler
Region: Dallas County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Oct 22, 2023
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/20170819_183121.jpg?itok=gVFFe45P)
Observation date: Aug 19, 2017
Submitted by: mleighx
Region: Orange County, New York, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Oct 14, 2023
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/20230825_225539270.jpg?itok=iM9BSa-A)
Observation date: Aug 25, 2023
Submitted by: mleighx
Region: Orange County, New York, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Oct 14, 2023
- ‹ previous
- 9 of 773
- next ›