Monarch

Female Monarch | Danaus plexippus | Florida Museum photo by Ryan Fessenden

Male Monarch butterfly with open wings. Butterfly is orange with black vein-stripes and a black border. The border is speckled with white dots.

Male Monarch | Danaus plexippus | Florida Museum photo by Ryan Fessenden

Female Monarch butterfly with closed wings. Butterfly is orange with thick black vein-stripes and a black border. The border is speckled with white dots. The lower wing is a pale orange, upper a deeper color.

Female Monarch | Danaus plexippus | Florida Museum photo by Ryan Fessenden

Male Monarch butterfly with closed wings. Butterfly is orange with black vein-stripes and a black border. The border is speckled with white dots.

Male Monarch | Danaus plexippus | Photos © Florida Museum, by Ryan G. Fessenden

Blue-green chrysalis with golden ridges, looks similar to a leaf hanging from a stem

Monarch, Danaus plexippus, chrysalis. Florida Museum photo by Ryan Fessenden

Common Name: Monarch
Scientific Name: Danaus plexippus
Family: Nymphalidae
Subfamily: Danainae
Tribe: Danaini
Wingspan: 2.5 to 4.0 in
Place of origin: Southern Canada to South America

Butterflies in the exhibit are raised on butterfly farms around the world. This form of sustainable agriculture helps protect natural forest habitats from destruction and promote local economic growth.

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