Butterfly Pavilion - Combining science education with hands-on fun to teach visitors about invertebrates, science and conservation.



Common Name Monarch Danaus plexippus Lepidoptera: Danaidae Range: North, Central, and South America and Australia Ours arrive from: Costa Rica and Florida Food: milkweeds (Asclepias spp') Notes: The most famous butterfly worldwide due to the incredible annual migrations they partake in. Individuals can travel thousands of miles during this phenomenon to reach overwintering grounds in central Mexico. In good years there may be in excess of 100 million individuals congregated in the half dozen reserves in the Mexican Neovolcanic mountains! Interesting Facts: Monarchs are unpalatable from feeding on milkweeds as larvae. This is advertised through the orange, black and white pattern (warning coloration)

Common Name Monarch
Danaus plexippus
Lepidoptera: Danaidae
Range: North, Central, and South America and Australia
Ours arrive from: Costa Rica and Florida

Food: milkweeds (Asclepias spp')

Notes: The most famous butterfly worldwide due to the incredible annual migrations they partake in. Individuals can travel thousands of miles during this phenomenon to reach overwintering grounds in central Mexico. In good years there may be in excess of 100 million individuals congregated in the half dozen reserves in the Mexican Neovolcanic mountains!

Interesting Facts: Monarchs are unpalatable from feeding on milkweeds as larvae. This is advertised through the orange, black and white pattern (warning coloration)