Butterfly family: Danidae


Links — [CBIF] — are to Butterflies of Canada on the Canadian Biodiversity Information Facility web site where you’ll find more photographs, descriptions, ranges, habitat, and more. The small images next to each butterfly’s name are from Butterflies of Canada. They show upper wing on left and under wing on the right and show the relative size of each species. Wingspans, flight times, and larval food are also from Butterflies of Canada.


Monarch

Danaus plexippus [CBIF] Wingspan: 93 to 105 mm
Larval food: Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca), Swamp Milkweed (A. incarnata) and Butterfly Weed (A. tuberosa)
Flight season: Most migrants arrive in June; 2 or 3 generations; most leave in September, although stragglers are seen in October and even November.

Male, upperside, notice node (spot) in hindwings

Underside

Female, underside, she has no nodes in hindwing

Caterpillar on its larval food, Common Milkweed


This page was revised 14 September 2018
© Fletcher Wildlife Garden
Photos: D. Gordon E. Robertson
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