Basic Facts: Life Cycle & Migration
The monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) is a milkweed butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. It may be the most familiar North American butterfly, and is considered an iconic pollinator species. Its wings feature an easily recognizable black, orange, and white pattern, with a wingspan of 8.9–10.2 cm (3 1⁄2–4 in). The range of monarch butterly populations expands and contracts depending upon the season. It undergoes the four stages of complete metamorphosis ...