Common name : Monarch butterfly
Scientific name : Danaus plexippus
Family : Nymphalidae
Native to : United States, Australia, Hawaii and
Pacific Islands
Interesting fact : One of the most familiar butterflies in North America, the monarch butterfly is easily identifiable by its orange and black pattern.
With a wingspan of about 10 cm, the monarch butterfly is a milkweed butterfly. Their habitat keeps changing based on whether butterflies are roosting, breeding or migrating. This habitat varies from open bright sunny areas to pastures and agricultural lands. Its diet is comprised of nectar from milkweed plants. The female lays between 290 to 1180 eggs on the underside of the new leaves of the milkweed plant.