24 Sep 2005
The most famous butterfly in North America, the Monarch migrates into NC each spring, lays eggs on milkweeds (Asclepias spp.), completes its life cycle, and the new generation migrates back south in the fall. Monarchs generally first appear in April and may be seen as late as Nov or December, especially along the coast. A few may be found overwintering along the immediate southern NC coast, although this is not their normal habit of the population.
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| Chatham Co., NC 24 Sep 2005 |
same individual |
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| New Hanover Co., NC 27 Aug 2005 |
Durham Co., NC 20 Aug 2005 |
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Monarchs look superficially similar to Viceroys, but the latter species has an extra black stripe going through the middle of the wings. Note also that Monarchs are larger, and they glide with their wings in a dihedral, or "V" shape, while Viceroys glide on flat wings (held straight out from the body on the same plane). Washington Co., NC21 June 2003 |
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Craven Co., NC 26 Aug 2007 Nectaring on Blazing Star, Liatris sp. |
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Dutchess Co., NY 4 Aug 2008 |
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Chatham Co., NC 24 Sep 2005 |
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same individual |
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On Asclepias curassavica St. Petersburg, FL |
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Looks like this chrysalis fell victim to predation Buncombe Co., NC8 July 2006 |
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Monarch (Danaus plexippus) sipping nectar from its host plant, Common Milkweek (Asclepias syriaca) Avery Co., NC26 July 2006 |
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Monarch (Danaus plexippus) nectaring on thistle (Cirsium sp.) Lubken Canyon, Inyo Co., CA19 July 2008 |
Created on ... June 29, 2003 | Updated on ... Mar 8, 2008 | jspippen@duke.edu