Monarch Butterfly Caterpillar

Natural Habitat

Fields, roadsides, and gardens containing milkweed plants throughout North and Central America.

Diet & Feeding

Exclusively feeds on milkweed (Asclepias species), consuming both the leaves and stems.

Behavior Patterns

The larva undergoes five growth stages called instars. It feeds voraciously to store energy for metamorphosis. The bright yellow, white, and black stripes serve as aposematic coloration, warning predators of its toxicity.

Risks & Benefits

Benefits include being an iconic pollinator in its adult stage. It is toxic to predators if eaten due to cardiac glycosides from its diet, but poses no direct risk to humans unless ingested.

Identified on: 2/6/2026