Monarch
Danaus plexippus
The Monarch is one of the most recognizable North American butterflies, with broad orange wings, bold black veins, and black borders marked with white spots. These photos show the butterfly in prairie and meadow settings, visiting yellow composite flowers and purple thistle blossoms, with one image including the striped caterpillar stage on milkweed.
For identification details, life-cycle notes, host plant information, and comparison with similar orange-and-black butterflies, see Danaus plexippus in the Field Notes section.
Monarch Among Prairie Flowers
A Monarch nectaring on tall yellow prairie flowers beneath a summer sky.
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Monarch Approaching Thistle
A side view of a Monarch in flight near purple thistle flowers, with the meadow fading softly behind it.
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Monarch on Yellow Flowers
A close dorsal view showing the Monarch’s orange wings, dark veins, and white-spotted black margins.
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Monarch in Flight
The butterfly lifts away from the flower cluster, giving the gallery a second action view.
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Monarch Caterpillar on Milkweed
A striped Monarch larva feeding on milkweed, the host plant for this species.
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