General: Monarch Butterflies (Danaus plexippus) are medium-sized butterflies recognized by their orange wings with black lines along the veins and the double row of white spots inside the black marginal band on the wings (makes three rows of white spots counting the white spots on the edge of the wing). Upper-side of male is bright orange; upper-side of female is orange-brown.

Taxonomy: Family: Brush-footed Butterflies (Nymphalidae); Subfamily: Milkweed Butterflies (Danainae).

Comments: Occurs throughout North America. Winters in southern areas (California, Texas, Florida, and Mexico). Successive generations migrate northward into Canada, then a single generation born in Canada flies south for the winter. Adults lay eggs on milkweed plants. The caterpillars feed on milkweed and acquire toxic chemicals, which are passed to the adult making them distasteful to predators.