Monarch (Danaus plexippus)

Order: Lepidoptera (le-pid-OP-ter-a) (Info) Family: Nymphalidae (nim-FAL-ih-dee) (Info) Genus: Danaus (DAN-ay-us) (Info) Species: plexippus Profile: 15 positives 1 neutral No negatives Regional... This bug has been reportedly found in the following regions: Mobile, Alabama Oro Valley, Arizona Phoenix, Arizona Queen Creek, Arizona Tucson, Arizona Barling, Arkansas Deer, Arkansas Marion, Arkansas North Little Rock, Arkansas , California Newark, California Pacific Grove, California (2 reports) Pismo Beach, California San Diego, California San Simeon, California Clifton, Colorado Bear, Delaware Altamonte Springs, Florida Atlantic Beach, Florida Belleair Bluffs, Florida Boca Raton, Florida Cape Coral, Florida Chambers Estates, Florida Citra, Florida Citrus Park, Florida Fort Lauderdale, Florida Jacksonville, Florida (2 reports) Macgregor, Florida Naples, Florida New Port Richey, Florida Oldsmar, Florida Palm Coast, Florida Pembroke Pines, Florida Saint Cloud, Florida Sebring, Florida Spring Hill, Florida Tildenville, Florida Timber Pines, Florida Weston, Florida Demorest, Georgia Griffin, Georgia Mableton, Georgia Rincon, Georgia Kailua Kona, Hawaii Chester, Illinois Davis Junction, Illinois Divernon, Illinois Galva, Illinois La Grange Park, Illinois Niles, Illinois Rock Falls, Illinois Westchester, Illinois Bluffton, Indiana Coatesville, Indiana Greentown, Indiana Homecroft, Indiana Newburgh, Indiana Atalissa, Iowa Cedar Falls, Iowa Cedar Rapids, Iowa Ewing, Kentucky Hebron, Kentucky Owensboro, Kentucky Salvisa, Kentucky Hammond, Louisiana New Orleans, Louisiana North Vacherie, Louisiana Cornville, Maine Durham, Maine South China, Maine Crofton, Maryland Fallston, Maryland Frederick, Maryland Loch Lynn Heights, Maryland Freetown, Massachusetts Halifax, Massachusetts Malden, Massachusetts Salem, Massachusetts Bark River, Michigan Central Lake, Michigan Dearborn Heights, Michigan Detroit, Michigan Pinconning, Michigan Warren, Michigan Deephaven, Minnesota Minneapolis, Minnesota St Cloud, Minnesota St Paul, Minnesota Lincoln, Nebraska (2 reports) Hudson, New Hampshire Marlton, New Jersey Roswell, New Mexico Claverack, New York Crown Heights, New York Henrietta, New York Himrod, New York Rego Park, New York West Babylon, New York Cary, North Carolina Concord, North Carolina Raleigh, North Carolina Red Oak, North Carolina Belfield, North Dakota Grand Forks, North Dakota Bowling Green, Ohio Bucyrus, Ohio Glouster, Ohio Obetz, Ohio Kellyville, Oklahoma Gold Hill, Oregon Alexandria, Pennsylvania Middleburg, Pennsylvania Pennsbury Village, Pennsylvania Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Wilkes-barre, Pennsylvania North Augusta, South Carolina Clarksville, Tennessee Pocahontas, Tennessee Abram-perezville, Texas Baytown, Texas Bayview, Texas Deer Park, Texas Desoto, Texas Doyle, Texas Fort Worth, Texas Houston, Texas (2 reports) Impact, Texas Keller, Texas Lakehills, Texas Lufkin, Texas Macallen, Texas Missouri City, Texas Reid Hope King, Texas Roman Forest, Texas San Antonio, Texas (2 reports) Smiley, Texas Spring, Texas (2 reports) Talty, Texas Charlottesville, Virginia Jonesville, Virginia Penhook, Virginia Roanoke, Virginia Virginia Beach, Virginia Altoona, Wisconsin West Allis, Wisconsin Ranchester, Wyoming Member Notes: Rating Author Comment Positive okus On Jul 24, 2006, okus from (Zone 8b) wrote: Above bright burnt-orange with black veins and black margins sprinkled with white dots. Below paler duskier orange. The similar Viceroy is smaller with shorter wings. The Queen and Tropic Queen are browner and smaller. Neutral Joan On Jul 31, 2006, Joan from Belfield, ND (Zone 4a) wrote: The monarch butterfly is sometimes called the milkweed butterfly because its larvae eat the plant. In fact, milkweed is the only thing the larvae can eat! Adult female monarchs lay their eggs on the underside of milkweed leaves. These eggs hatch, depending on temperature, in three to twelve days. The larvae feed on the plant leaves for about two weeks and develop into caterpillars about 2 inches long. After awhile, the caterpillars attach themselves head down to a convenient twig, they shed their outer skin and begin the transformation into a pupa (or chrysalis), a process which is completed in a matter of hours. The pupa resembles a waxy, jade vase and becomes increasingly transparent as the process progresses. The caterpillar completes the miraculous transformation into a beautiful adult butterfly in about two weeks. The butterfly finally emerges from the now transparent chrysalis. It inflates its wings with a pool of blood it has stored in its abdomen. When this is done, the monarch expels any excess fluid and rests. The butterfly waits until its wings stiffen and dry before it flies away to start the cycle of life all over again. Most predators have learned that the monarch butterfly makes a poisonous snack. The toxins from the monarch's milkweed diet have given the butterfly this defense. In either the caterpillar or butterfly stage the monarch needs no camouflage because it takes in toxins from the milkweed and is poisonous to predators. Many animals advertise their poisonous nature with bright colors... just like the monarch! Positive plantladyhou On Sep 12, 2006, plantladyhou from Katy, TX (Zone 8b) wrote: I raise Butterfly weed just for the Monarchs and their caterpillers. The plants are unobtrusive but the butterflies are a joy. Their offspring aren't hurting anything and I will not allow them to be killed. The butterfly weed quickly grows back and the cycle is repeated. Positive Sheila965 On Oct 23, 2006, Sheila965 from Rincon, GA (Zone 8a) wrote: I've got one Monarch that visits my butterfly bushes daily. She seems to love the light purple ones! Positive Marilynbeth On Nov 22, 2006, Marilynbeth from Hebron, KY wrote: I'm always thrilled to see a Monarch Butterfly and its Cats. Beautiful! Positive blossombloom On Dec 2, 2006, blossombloom from Griffin, GA wrote: The Monarchs I've seen around here are huge. Is this the same or a different kind? I adore all butterflies. Over the summer we half screened our porch, (not on purpose mind you) and you should have seen all the butterflies that I had to rescue and let them fly away out of the palm of my hand. I was very careful because their wings are very fragile and will tear if touched. I am happy to say that there was no injuries in the process of the mission. Positive mamapajama On Apr 20, 2007, mamapajama from Poughkeepsie, NY wrote: These butterflies are lovely ! My son and I raised some from caterpilars last summer, we can't wait to do this again. Thinking of tagging the released butterflies to track them Please leave any milkweed plants in your garden -only plant the cats will eat. Interesting fact -you can tell a male Monarch from a female by the presence of 2 black dots on the wings. Positive Malus2006 On Feb 13, 2008, Malus2006 from Coon Rapids, MN (Zone 4a) wrote: Tend to pop up here about July in Minnesota and hang around until the first frost. Never interested in the Swamp Milkweed that I have growing in my yard. Here's some interesting facts - In the 1840s they were found in Hawaii, then 1850s through 1860s they were found on most South Pacific Islands, then in the early 1870s they were found on Australia and New Zealand. Interesting to know - they most likely were aided by humans - also milkweed have been spreading throughout Australia and New Zealand from North America. Recently they have been found in the Canary Islands and West Europe. Host Plants of the Monarch Butterfly Northern Portion of Range - Eastern United States. (I'm trying to find information on host plants in Western North America - one source said of 100s of N A Milweed species, 1/4 are known host plants - will be nice to know what other milkweed species that monarch butterflies feed on - to make them more popular in the plant trade - there is strict regulations on Common Milkweed in some regions - noxious in rural areas) Asclepias syrica Common Milkweed is the most important host in the Northern Portion. Others are A. incarnata, Swamp Milkweed, A. tiberosa Butterfly Weed. I will try to include more less common milkweed in future references. Of notice: Swallowwort, Vincetoxicum (recently changed from Cynanchum) of which two species are invasive in N. America fools monarch butterflies into laying eggs on them but lacks chemical defenses for them. Swallowwort are found in New England and most of the Great Lakes, some native species in the Great Plains are used as larval hosts - impacts are unknown. South Portion of East United States through part of North -East Mexico - Most important is A. oenothroides Zizotes Milkweed, A. vividis Spider Milkweed, and A. asperuloa Antelope Horn Milkweed. Also Asclepias curassavica, Tropical Milkweed, a tropical native to S. America is often used for host plants and to attract monarch butterflies by southern gardeners. There is also a subspecies in West Central South America. There is very little information on Monarch butterflies that live in Central America and 1/2 of South America. Positive aggscott On Apr 23, 2008, aggscott from Wilkes Barre, PA (Zone 6a) wrote: What a great butterfly these are! My favorite! I released over 200 healthy Monarchs last year and tagged over 50 of them. Help the Monarchs and plant Milkweed Positive twopuppies On May 12, 2008, twopuppies from Chester, IL wrote: Seems early, I have no milkweed but had a female monarch the last three days in April- a well worn female feeding on henbit flowers- ws still there(or another one) first couple days of may! Positive rampbrat On Aug 3, 2008, rampbrat from Abilene, TX (Zone 7b) wrote: We're on their migration route (through West Central TX) in the fall. When my sons were young and played soccer, I was often distracted from the games by the 100' s of monarchs in the air. I try to keep fall flowers in the yard, like mums,coreopsis, and asters just for the monarchs. Positive SusanLouise On Jan 28, 2009, SusanLouise from Lincoln, NE (Zone 5b) wrote: I watched the fall migration of the Monarch on Sept 24th 2008...I counted 131 Monarchs fly over our house....I was in complete awe! :) Positive LouC On Jul 17, 2009, LouC from Desoto, TX (Zone 8a) wrote: Some time ago, Oct. 2005, I witnessed a miracle. Standing in my backyard near dusk I noticed something falling from the sky (?) like leaves. Stood very still and watched as literally thousands of Monarchs decended and covered everything in my yard and my neighbors yard. Began to call for others to come look and be very respectful as we were standing on Holy Ground. This was before I had any kind of flower or host plants. They were just resting as they traveled to Marioposa, Mexico. Too much to expect it to ever happen again. Christi Positive napolemj On Dec 16, 2009, napolemj from Winter Garden, FM (Zone 9b) wrote: I'm a bit confused. I have been raising 6 Monarch larvae since early December (they are now in their pupa stage), and I am positive these are Monarchs and not Queens. I had always read that Monarchs leave Central Florida for the Mexican fir forests by winter. Why are there still Monarchs here? Positive themikesmom On Oct 2, 2011, themikesmom from Concord, NC wrote: I had never seen any Monarchs or Viceroys in this area of the Southeastern United States, in Central NC until today, when we saw a beautiful huge monarch all by himself and he looked totally exhausted and on the verge of dying, he certainly didnt look like he would have enough energy to fly all the way down to the rainforests of Mexico, which is where I understand they migrate too; for the cold winter months here in the States . Again it was really nice to see one, as up until now, had only seen Monarchs in the NE US, and had only seen yellow or blue Eastern Swallowtail butterflys and Red Spotted Purples here in NC. it was a great sight to behold, although depressing, as it looked like it was tired, and on its way out. Sandra. Positive tlm1 On Aug 3, 2012, tlm1 from Jacksonville, FL (Zone 9a) wrote: I so miss having these in my garden! All of my Milkweeds have gone due to changes in the gardens, and they have certainly been the "GO TO" for the Monarchs…They will be one of the first additions back into the new bed!

By okus By okus By Sheila_FW By Magpye By Vee8ch By Vee8ch By Vee8ch There are a total of 159 photos. Click here to view them all!