Monarch Butterfly

About

The Monarch Butterfly (Danaus plexippus) is renowned for its distinctive black and orange wings, with a wingspan of approximately 3.5 to 4 inches. Its caterpillars are striped with yellow, black, and white bands and exclusively feed on milkweed plants. The Monarch's life cycle includes four generations annually, with the final generation undertaking a remarkable migration from North America to Mexico or California, traveling up to 3,000 miles. Monarchs are found across North America, with two main populations: eastern and western. The eastern population migrates to Mexico, while the western population migrates to California. Their migration is multi-generational, with no individual completing the entire journey. Monarchs face threats such as habitat loss, pesticides, and climate change, leading to significant population declines. Conservation efforts focus on planting milkweed and nectar-rich plants to support their lifecycle and migration.