Wingspan: 4 1/2" to 6 in.
Description: The familiar orange and black coloring of this migration superstar is actually a warning predators to " look out!" That's because the caterpillar spent weeks eating milkweed, which is filled with cardenolides that are toxic to vertebrates. These are stored in the body, making even the adults hazardous to eat. Monarchs are often confused with a couple of similar butterflies. Compare them with Viceroy and Queen. Adults don't survive cold winter temperatures so they migrate south. In summer, the butterflies that don't migrate live 2 to 5 weeks but the final generation migrates and live up to 9 months, laying eggs in springs. Cool weather slows their metabolism down to conserve energy.
Larva: The caterpillars transversely striped with white, black, and yellow. The body has two pairs of long fleshy filaments, one pair on the thorax and the other toward the rear end. The head is white with black stripes.
Pupa: The pupa is green with gold spots. Unlike the Queen butterfly, there are two pairs of gold spots on the head. The back of the abdomen has a black and gold line. The cremaster is black with one black spot on the back of the abdomen and two on the front.
What are the Host Plants for the monarch butterfly? What plants are good for their caterpillars? See listing below.
* Asclepias Incarnata "swamp milkweed"
* Asclepias Perennis " swamp milkweed"
* Asclepias Tuberosa " butterfly weed"
* Asclepias Verticillata "whorled milkweed"
* Funestrum Clausum " white twine vine"
What Nectar plants does Monarch like?
Here in Florida are some of the most common nectar plants. See listing below. You will be able to find several species from this list at our Nursery. If you live nearby to "Eden of Wings Nursery" 1036 Enterprise Ostend Rd. please stop by and we will be happy to help you to make the best selection of nectar plants!
* Baccharis Halimifolia "Eastern Baccharis"
* Borrichia Frustescens "Bushy Seaside Tansy"
* Cephalanthus Occidentalis "Common Buttonbush"
* Chromolaena Odorata "Jack in the Bush"
* Chrysoma Parciflosculosa "Woody Goldenrod"
* Conoclinium Coelestinum "Blue Mistflower"
* Amelia Patens "Firebush"
* Helianthus Angustifolius "Narrow Leaved Sunflower"
* Heliotropium Angiospermum "Scorpio's Tail"
* Liatris Spicata "Spiked Blazing Star"
* Monarda Punctata "Spotted Bee Balm"
* Pluchea Odorata "Sweetscent"
* Prunus Caroliniana "Caroline Laurelcherry"
* Rudbeckia Hirta "Blackeyed Susan"
* Salvia Azurea "Azure Blue Sage"
* Salvia Coccinea "Scarlet Sage"
* Salvia Lyrata "Lyreleaf Sage"
* Solidago Sempervirens "Seaside Goldenrod"
* Verbena Virginica "Frostweed"
* Vernonia Gigantea "Giant Ironweed"
