Monarch butterfly (caterpillar / chrysalis forms)
Scientific Name: Danaus plexippus
Order & Family: Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae
Size: Wingspan of 3.5 to 4.8 inches (8.9 to 12.2 cm); caterpillars can reach up to 2 inches (5 cm).
Natural Habitat
Open fields, meadows, prairies, and gardens where milkweed (Asclepias spp.) is present across North and Central America.
Diet & Feeding
Caterpillars feed exclusively on milkweed leaves, which contain toxins that protect them from predators. Adults feed on nectar from a variety of flowers.
Behavior Patterns
Famous for their massive multi-generational migration from North America to central Mexico. They undergo a complete metamorphosis: egg, larva (caterpillar), pupa (chrysalis), and adult.
Risks & Benefits
Benefits the ecosystem as a major pollinator. They are not harmful to humans, but their bodies contain cardiac glycosides from milkweed that are toxic to birds and other predators if eaten.
Identified on: 2/27/2026