They are very strong and high flyers. Look for the shiny silver spots on the underside of their wings. This species is a fast-flyer that prefers open spaces. Milkweed leaves This species is closely related to the more commonly recognized Monarch, but is easily distinguished by the darker brown coloring. It s behavior and slow, soaring flight is similar to the monarchs.
Caterpillars feed on milkweed and sometimes on dogbane.
These butterflies are perhaps the best known and most popular in the United States. They migrate in the winter to California and central Mexico. Their flight is slow and elegant. Spicebush, sassafras, sweet bay, and prickly ash. As with many species of insect, it gets named based on it s host plant.