Monarch (South American)
FamilyNymphalidae
Scientific NameDanaus erippus
RangeSouth America
HabitatOpen areas
About the Monarch (South American)
Formerly considered a subspecies of the North American Monarch but elevated to full species status in 2024. They do not make the famous long-distance migration of their northern relatives. Their wing pattern is nearly identical but they are slightly smaller. They also feed on milkweed and carry the same cardiac glycoside toxins. Found from Colombia to northern Argentina.
Related Species
Monarch
The most famous butterfly in the world. They migrate up to 4,800 km from Canada ...
Morpho (Blue)
Their stunning iridescent blue comes not from pigment but from microscopic scale...
Painted Lady
The most widely distributed butterfly on Earth, found on every continent except ...
Peacock Butterfly
Named for their spectacular eye-spots that resemble peacock feathers. When threa...