The Monarch

Country: Mexico (Nov-March) and US Florida/Southern California (April-Oct).

Colors: Orange-red-yellow, black.

Male vs. Female: Males have two visible black dots, and females have thicker lines.

Male Monarch (visible dots)

Female Monarch (thicker lines)

Stages of life:

Stage 1: Egg (4 days)

Stage 2: Caterpillar (7-17 days)

Stage 3: Chrysalis (8-15 days)

Stage 4: Butterfly (2 weeks to 8 months)

Diet: Milkweed leaves as caterpillars and nectar of many plants as adults.

Life Span: They can live up to 8 months if they are born in time to migrate to Mexico for the winter.

Scientific name: Danaus plexippus.

Endangered: YES.

PS: Don't eat a Monarch, they are poisonous.

Numbers:

Size: Wingspan, 3.7 to 4.1 inches (9.4 to 10.4 centimeters).

Weight: 0.0095 to 0.026 ounces (0.27 to 0.74 grams)

How many: ~250,000 butterflies (2022)