Monarch
Danaus plexippus (Linnaeus, 1758)
Family: Nymphalidae (formerly Danaidae)
Status: Common breeding migrant
NENHP Ranking: S2, Tier 1
Range: This butterfly overwinters in coastal California and in Mexico (in mountainous areas south of Mexico City). From these overwintering sites females and subsequent generations migrate north as far north as central Canada. The Monarch is found statewide in Nebraska.
Larval Hostplant(s): Milkweeds (Asclepius sp.).
Broods/Flight Times: Adults arrive in May and migrate back south in early September, breeding continuously through most of the summer.
Overwintering: As adults in Mexico and California.
Habitat: As migrants they might be found anywhere.
Avg. Wingspan: 3 3/8 – 4 7/8 inches
Found at: Ash Hollow SHP, Rowe Sanctuary, Box Elder SWMA
Similar Species: Viceroys and Queens
Notes: Larvae and adults are distasteful due to cardiac glycosides they ingest from milkweeds they consume as larvae.
Monarch, Kearney, Jonathan Nikkila
