General Description
Above and below: orange with black veins, edge of wings black with white spots. Wingspan up to 9 cm.
Biology
Monarch butterflies are known for travelling between areas in late summer and autumn, migrating long distances. They were first recorded in Australia in 1871. Their caterpillars have black and yellow stripes around the body and feed on the introduced Swan Plant.
Distribution
North and Central America, Africa, India. New Zealand. Eastern mainland Australia and Tasmania.
Habitat
Grasslands and areas with Swan Plants.
More Information
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Animal Type
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Animal SubType
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Brief Id
Clubbed antennae, without eyespots, without tails on hindwing, wing edges black with white spots.
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Colours
Black, Orange
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Habitats
Wetland, Urban, DryForest, WetForest, Woodland, Mallee, Grassland
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Diet
Nectar
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Endemicity
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Conservation Statuses
CITES: Not listed, FFG Threatened List: Not listed, DSE Advisory List: Not listed, IUCN Red List: Not listed
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Plants
Swan Plant
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Flight Start
December
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Flight End
April
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Taxon Name
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Scientific Author
(Linnaeus, 1758)
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Common Name
Monarch
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Other Names
Wanderer
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Kingdom
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Phylum
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Subphylum
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Class
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Order
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Superfamily
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Family
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Subfamily
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Genus
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Species Name
plexippus
