Overview

The monarch butterfly is instantly recognisable: bright orange wings veined in black, dotted with white spots. In North America, eastern populations migrate up to 4,800 kilometres south to Mexico each autumn — a journey spanning several generations, as no single butterfly completes the round trip.

Monarch caterpillars feed exclusively on milkweed, storing toxic compounds that make adults unpalatable to birds. Garden milkweed plantings have become a popular way to support declining populations.

Habitat

Meadows, roadsides, and gardens with milkweed and nectar flowers support monarchs across North America. They also occur in gardens and coastal areas in the UK as occasional migrants, though they cannot survive British winters.

Countries found

Interesting facts

01
Monarchs migrate up to 4,800 km — one of the longest insect migrations on Earth.
02
Caterpillars feed only on milkweed plants.
03
Their orange colour warns predators that they taste bad.

Conservation status

EN — Endangered

Monarch butterflies are Endangered, with eastern migratory populations declining sharply due to habitat loss, pesticides, and climate change. Milkweed restoration and reduced pesticide use are key to recovery.