Monarch Butterfly
Other Name(s): King Billy
Characteristics: Monarch Butterflies are a common sight throughout North America, with the exception of the extreme northern regions. Their orange and black coloring, mixed with a little white, make them instantly recognizable. Yellow and brown can also be found on the wings. Length for the species measures in at about 88mm to 100mm.
Like all butterflies, the Monarch begins as a caterpillar, feeding on foliage and flower buds where available. Monarchs tend to gravitate towards open meadows or along the road, traversing the terrain in the search for the much favored milkweed leaves. Appearance is from May to early fall and a single Monarch can cover thousands of miles of flight in one season.
The Viceroy Butterfly appears very similar to the Monarch Butterfly with slight variations in both pattern and color. A most discerning eye should be able to tell the two apart.
North American reach includes (may not be limited to): Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming
Category: Butterfly or Moth
Common Name: Monarch Butterfly
Scientific Name: (Danaus plexippus)
 Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Danaidae
Genus: Danaus
Species: plexippus
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