Monarch butterfly

Danaus plexippus
Brush-footed butterflies (Nymphalidae)

CC-BY-SA 4.0 rights : RikenMon

Large orange butterfly with black edges containing white dots and black veins. The underside is sharper than the top but lighter in colour. The body is black with white speckles. ♀ are lighter in colour. The caterpillar is black with white and yellow striped and has 2 black rods in front and behind, these can be moved to deter any hunters. 

The caterpillar eats poisonous plants, which doesn't mind him but then it is toxic. This is retained when it transfers into a butterfly. Depending on the quantity of poison that the caterpillar has eaten, one butterfly is, therefore, more toxic than the other. 

⇔ wsp. 80-110 mm

The Monarch butterfly is best known for the annual migration that the American variant makes. There are several subspecies that occur in Europe. 

LA: 
There are many butterflies that resemble this one. The bright colour is an indication for hunters that the butterfly is poisonous, by looking like this butterfly other species do not have to be poisonous to be left alone.

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