Monarch
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Nymphalidae
Genus: Danaus
Species: D. plexippus
General Characteristics: Adult butterflies are orange with black wing veins and bodies. Caterpillars are 2-3/4 inches long fully grown, with a pair of black antennae-like appendages (filaments) at either end of the body (2nd thoracic segment, 8th abdominal segment). The body is ringed with black, yellow and white stripes. The chrysalis is smooth and light green or blue with gold markings.
Special Adaptations: Caterpillars have chewing mouthparts. Adults have siphoning mouths. Caterpillars feed exclusively on milkweed. Adults feed on nectar from numerous wild flowers. The monarch butterflies are distasteful to birds because of chemicals obtained from caterpillar feeding on milkweed leaves.
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