Common Name:
Monarch butterfly
Scientific Name:
Danaus plexippus
Unique Qualities:
Monarchs are large, with a wingspan of 9.3-10.5 cm. They have bright orange wings with black veins a few white dots. The Monarch is the only butterfly that annually migrates both north and south as birds do.
Can be Seen:
The monarch is seen across nearly all of North America, south of Hudson Bay through to South America. Monarchs migrate in the winter to California and Mexico, and return to Canada in the spring.
Likes to Hang Out:
In the spring and summer, the monarch butterfly's habitat is open fields with lots of milkweed. Their winter habitat is in areas with lots of tree cover.
Likes to Eat:
The baby caterpillars eat milkweed, a plant that is poisonous to other creatures. Adult monarchs sip nectar from flowers for food.
Status:
The Committee on the Status Endangered Wildlife In Canada (COSEWIC) lists the monarch as "Special Concern", which means the monarch is very sensitive to human activities and natural events but is not an endangered or threatened species.
