Danaus plexippus
"Monarch"

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Lepidoptera (Rhopalocera) : Papilionoidea : Nymphalidae : Danainae :
Danaus plexippus

Danaus plexippus - Monarch, Copyright 1999 - 2002, Dave Morgan
Jekyll Island, GA, USA - August 20, 1998

Danaus plexippus - Monarch, Copyright 1999 - 2002, Dave Morgan
Cobb Co., GA, USA - November 6, 1999

The larvae of the Monarch take in chemicals from the host plant (milkweed), which make them taste bad. These chemicals remain in the bodies of the adult butterflies, so predators soon learn to avoid eating large black-veined rust-colored butterflies. As a result, the Viceroy has developed similar wing patterns, so it benefits from this bad reputation, too.

More on Danaus plexippus at USGS Northern Prarie Wildlife Research Center

Larval information on Danaus plexippus at USGS Northern Prarie Wildlife Research Center

More Danaus plexippus images at J. Adams' "Georgia Lepidoptera" site

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Modified: Thursday 26 July 2007 02:00:46     www.lepidoptera.net     ©2003 Dave Morgan