Painting by William Pope, courtesy of Harry B. Barrett
Monarch Butterfly
Danaus plexippus
This drawing of the magnificent monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) of the east. These insects that flutter by on huge
black and burnt orange wings have a life cycle dependent upon the milkweed plant. On their fall migration through
southern Ontario, they sometimes present an astonishing spectacle as they streampast or cluster upon trees.
William Pope 1811-1902
The monarch butterfly, is a colorful butterfly with one of the longest migratory patterns known for any insect.
Its success in the wild is due partly to its diet; monarch larvae feed exclusively on milkweed plants, giving them a bitter taste
undesirable to birds and other insectivorous animals.
Monarch Migration
Large numbers of monarch butterflies, Danaus plexippus, winter in the mountains west of Mexico City. This butterfly is known for
its extraordinarily long migrations between central Mexico and the central-northern United States, which it makes twice during its
two-year life span. Scientists speculate that the mountainous climate provides a favorable mix of moist air and cool, but not
freezing, temperatures. These conditions keep the butterfly from drying out and keep its metabolism low enough to conserve fat
stores but high enough to maintain life. The longest recorded flight for a tagged adult monarch is 2900 km (1800 mi).
