Monarch

Danaus plexippus

Genus Danaus
Subfamily Milkweed Butterflies
Family Brushfooted Butterflies
All Massachusetts Species


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Occurrence Statewide - migrant
Abundance Fairly common to abundant
Flight Period Mid-May to mid-October
Notes Large autumn flights occur irregularly, both inland and coastally
Overwintering Migrant
More info Massachusetts Butterfly Atlas Website
More info Butterflies of Massachusetts Website

Monarch - Danaus plexippus

Monarch

Photo by Fred Goodwin - 9/19/2002
Massachusetts Audubon Society
Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary
Larva in final instar

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Monarch - Danaus plexippus

Monarch

Photo by Fred Goodwin - 10/8/2002
Massachusetts Audubon Society
Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary
Note the deformed left forewing

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Monarch - Danaus plexippus

Monarch

Photo by Fred Goodwin - 8/18/2002
Massachusetts Audubon Society
Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary

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Monarch - Danaus plexippus

Monarch

Photo by Fred Goodwin - 9/30/2002
Massachusetts Audubon Society
Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary

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Monarch - Danaus plexippus

Monarch

Photo © Marj Rines - 7/7/1999
Lincoln
Male

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Monarch - Danaus plexippus

Monarch

Photo © Dale Rhoda - 8/19/2003
Deer Isle, ME

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Monarch - Danaus plexippus

Monarch

Photo by Mike Maurer

Female

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Monarch - Danaus plexippus

Monarch

Photo © Alyce Mayo - 2000
Royalston
Deformed

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Monarch - Danaus plexippus

Monarch

Photo by Tom Whelan - 9/22/2006
Westport
Migrating

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Monarch - Danaus plexippus

Monarch

Photo by Barbara Spencer - 10/16/2007
Cummington
Last Eclosure of the Season

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Monarch - Danaus plexippus

Monarch

Photo by Frank Model - 11/27/2005
Santa Cruz, CA
Overwintering Cluster on Eucalyptus

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Monarch - Danaus plexippus

Monarch

Photo by Frank Model - 7/27/2007
Whitefield, NH
Caterpillar

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Monarch - Danaus plexippus

Monarch

Photo by Frank Model - 9/21/2006
Northampton Community Gardens
Female

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Monarch - Danaus plexippus

Monarch

Photo by Frank Model - 7/14/2005
Amherst
Female

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Monarch - Danaus plexippus

Monarch

Photo by Frank Model - 9/21/2006
Northampton Community Gardens
Male

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Monarch - Danaus plexippus

Monarch

Photo by Frank Model - 9/25/2006
Northampton Community Gardens
Male
Aberrant

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Monarch - Danaus plexippus

Monarch

Photo by Frank Model - 10/3/2006
Amherst
Male
Aberrant

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Monarch - Danaus plexippus

Monarch

Photo by Frank Model - 7/19/2005
Amherst
Male

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Monarch - Danaus plexippus

Monarch

Photo by Frank Model - 9/17/2006
Northampton Community Gardens
Male
Note 'Monarch Watch' tag.

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Monarch - Danaus plexippus

Monarch

Photo by Frank Model - 8/15/2007
Shelter Island, NY
Mating

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