When their wings are open, they are about four inches wide. The monarch butterfly can be found all over the world, but it is most common in North, Central, and South America. In the spring and summer, the monarch butterfly's habitat is open fields with milkweed. Their winter habitat is in areas with lots of tree cover. Monarch butterfly larva feed on milkweed.
Adults gather nectar from flowers.
Eating milkweed causes the butterflies to store alkaloid. Danaus Monarch butterflies mate in the spring in their winter territory. The male courts the female in the air, tackles her and breeds with her on the ground. As the monarchs migrate to their summer territory, the female lays her eggs on milkweed plants. The eggs take 3-15 days to hatch into larvae.