THE INSECTLIBRARY FIELD GUIDES
Monarch ButterflyIdentification, facts & practical guidance
The monarch butterfly is Danaus plexippus. Adults have orange wings divided by dark veins, with white spots in the dark margins.
Compiled by the InsectLibrary Team · Updated · Editorial policy
Identification and lookalikes
Compare with a viceroy, which has an additional dark line across the hindwing. Monarch caterpillars have black, white and yellow bands and feed on milkweeds. Adult and larval identifications require different features.
Milkweed and migration
Milkweeds support the caterpillars, while adults visit flowers for nectar. Migration differs among populations; the famous long-distance North American migration should not be assumed for every monarch population worldwide.
What to do next
For a garden, choose locally appropriate native milkweeds and nectar plants. Photograph both wing surfaces when possible, and use current regional conservation advice rather than a single global status label.
Monarch Butterfly: species profile
Explore the species profile covered by this guide, with recorded names and available photos.
Sources and further reading
- mdc.mo.gov - monarchhttps://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/field-guide/monarch
References support the subject discussed here; they do not certify every imported directory record. Regional sources describe their own locations. Read our source and correction policy.