The Monarch Butterfly
Danaus plexippus
The monarch butterfly or simply monarch (Danaus plexippus) is a milkweed butterfly (subfamily Danainae) in the family Nymphalidae. Other common names, depending on region, include milkweed, common tiger, wanderer, and black-veined brown. It is among the most familiar of North American butterflies and an iconic pollinator, although it is not an especially effective pollinator of milkweeds.
Quick Facts
| Scientific name | Danaus plexippus |
| Family | Nymphalidae |
| Type | Butterfly |
| Status | Native; IUCN listed, candidate for US listing |
| Active season | May-Oct in Minnesota |
| What it needs | Milkweed (Asclepias) for caterpillars - nothing else will do; nectar plants through September for the migrating generation |
| Where in Minnesota | Statewide; prairies and roadsides of western and southern Minnesota are core breeding habitat |
Mentioned In
Image Credits
- Vogbank at English Wikipedia, cropped by Fvasconcellos (talk · contribs) (Public domain)
- Stan Shebs (CC BY-SA 3.0)