T.E.R:R.A.I.N - Taranaki Educational Resource: Research, Analysis and Information Network

Butterfly (Monarch) Danaus plexippus

Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Superfamily: Papilionoidea
Family: Nymphalidae
Subfamily: Danainae
Tribe: Danaini
Genus: Danaus
Species: D. plexippu
Scientific Name: Danaus plexippus
Common Name: Monarch Butterfly

The monarch arrived in New Zealand about 120 years` ago crossing the Pacific from North America. It is New Zealans largest resident butterfly. Its caterpillars food is the Swan plant ( Gomphocarpus) . Their live cycle is two weeks as a caterpillar, two weeks as a chrysalis and about two months as a butterfly.
Female Monarchs have darker veins on their wings, and the males have a spot in the center of each hindwing from which pheromones are released. Males are also slightly larger.

For information on pheromones visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pheromones

Danaus plexippus male . Notice the pheromone releasing spot on each hind wing.