monarch butterfly
Danaus plexippus

Monarch butterflies are found in meadows, roadsides, and sandy areas of North America where milkweed plants grow.  The larvae, or caterpillars, of this insect feed on the milkweed.  Eventually they undergo metamorphosis, changing into butterflies.  Butterflies' colors come from tiny scales which cover the wings; colors may aid them in species recognition and camouflage, or by warning away predators.   The monarch is most famous for its annual migration in which millions of individuals travel south, some for thousands of miles.  Butterflies pollinate plants as they feed on nectar.

Return to Animal Bytes

SeaWorld/Busch Gardens Animal Information Database
www.seaworld.org / www.buschgardens.org

©1999 Busch Entertainment Corporation.
All rights Reserved.