monarch butterfly

[mon-erk buht-er-flahy, mon-ahrk]

noun

1. a large, deep-orange butterfly, Danaus plexippus, having black and white markings, the larvae of which feed on the leaves of milkweed: highly valued as a pollinator, the monarch butterfly is currently not evaluated by the IUCN, but the protection of the species and its habitat is central to several conservation efforts.

Word History and Origins

Origin of monarch butterfly¹

First recorded in 1885–90

Example Sentences

Also, monarch butterflies flit among the tall stands of narrow leaf milkweed, the plant their caterpillars require to survive.

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Though theoretically humans may have genetic science down that we could rescue any imperiled species, from sea otters to monarch butterflies, this has yet to be fully demonstrated.

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The Western population of the monarch butterfly has declined to a near-record low with fewer than 10,000 found living in California this winter, a foreboding sign for the future of the beloved black-and-orange insect.

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Federal wildlife officials on Tuesday moved to add the monarch butterfly to its endangered species roster, citing decades of steep population decline of the striking black-and-orange insect.

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If they do get dirty, they’re machine washable, and they come in myriad colors and designs, from camo to monarch butterflies.

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