Monarch butterfly chrysalis
Danaus plexippus (Linnaeus)
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Nymphalidae
Size range
- About 25 mm long
Distribution
- Originally from the Pacific Coast of North America
Life History
- Large butterfly, wingspan up to 100 mm
- Caterpillars feed on plants of the Asclepiadaceae family, usually Swan plant in New Zealand
- Alternative food plants are Tweedia and Araujia
- Adults take only liquid food, nectar and water
