Monarch (Wanderer) Danaus plexippus
Wingspan: 92mm - 93mm
Sighted at Claire Cottage: All year but more common in the warmer months.
Distribution: Fragmented range - Central southern NT., northern NT including zone around much of Gulf of Carpentaria, QLD Cape York Peninsula south through eastern QLD, continuing through eastern half of NSW, and eastern and southern VIC, coastal SA to west of Port Augusta, an area in southern WA around Bunbury in addition to several small populations in northern WA, much of Tasmania.
First Documented Recording of this American migratory species in Australia - Feb 1871 (Brisbane Courier) butterflies sighted in S.E. QLD.
Status Claire Cottage: common
Status Dorrigo Plateau: thought to be common
Wingspan: 92mm - 93mm
Sighted at Claire Cottage: All year but more common in the warmer months.
Distribution: Fragmented range - Central southern NT., northern NT including zone around much of Gulf of Carpentaria, QLD Cape York Peninsula south through eastern QLD, continuing through eastern half of NSW, and eastern and southern VIC, coastal SA to west of Port Augusta, an area in southern WA around Bunbury in addition to several small populations in northern WA, much of Tasmania.
First Documented Recording of this American migratory species in Australia - Feb 1871 (Brisbane Courier) butterflies sighted in S.E. QLD.
Status Claire Cottage: common
Status Dorrigo Plateau: thought to be common
Female Monarch feeding on Abelia flowers, 28 Jan 2007
An April Monarch feeding on the last of the Buddleia flowers, 14 Apr 2017
Yellow buddleia flowers last longer into autumn than other buddleia colours. Male Monarch, 24 Mar 2018
A male Monarch showing the scent gland pouch on the hind-wing, 18 Nov 2016
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Female Monarch - note no scent gland on the hindwing
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Monarch resting on a single Dahlia flower, 11 Jan 2018
Monarch feeding on Buddleia Claire Cottage 24 Dec 2017, 11.15am
Monarchs mating
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Monarch caterpillars feeding on *Gomphocarpus fruticosus (Narrow-leaved Cotton Bush), Claire Cottage
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Monarch larva, prepupa stage, Claire Cottage
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Monarch pupa, close to emergence, Claire Cottage
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Female Monarch laying eggs Mt Cotton, Qld
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Monarch on its foodplant, Gomphocarpus physocarpus at Mt.Cotton, Qld.
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Monarch (Wanderer) Danaus plexippus
Wingspan: 92mm - 93mm
Sighted at Claire Cottage: All year but more common in the warmer months.
Distribution: Fragmented range - Central southern NT., northern NT including zone around much of Gulf of Carpentaria, QLD Cape York Peninsula south through eastern QLD, continuing through eastern half of NSW, and eastern and southern VIC, coastal SA to west of Port Augusta, an area in southern WA around Bunbury in addition to several small populations in northern WA, much of Tasmania.
First Documented Recording of this American migratory species in Australia - Feb 1871 (Brisbane Courier) butterflies sighted in S.E. QLD.
Status Claire Cottage: common
Status Dorrigo Plateau: thought to be common
Butterfly Sightings:
Larva Sightings:
Larval Food Plants:
Breeding at Claire Cottage: Yes
Flight habit: Throughout the day.
Winter Sightings: 27/06/21
Interesting observations :
This is a butterfly many people are familiar with in Australia and around the world, it often visits gardens or is seen flying over open areas. It is found in many countries around the world and is well known for its long migrations from Canada to Mexico to overwinter in forest areas in very large groups. In some cooler parts of Australia Monarch butterflies also gather in large numbers to overwinter but in warmer areas they are able to breed all year round.
The Monarch butterfly is not a native to Australia but is thought to have first come here around 1871, most probably traveling on a ship or flying island to island across the Pacific. Its food plants are also introduced weeds to Australia.
Although they are strong, fast flyers, Monarchs will also glide between bursts of flight.
With their startling orange and black colouring Monarchs make a striking blaze of colour in the garden.
Wingspan: 92mm - 93mm
Sighted at Claire Cottage: All year but more common in the warmer months.
Distribution: Fragmented range - Central southern NT., northern NT including zone around much of Gulf of Carpentaria, QLD Cape York Peninsula south through eastern QLD, continuing through eastern half of NSW, and eastern and southern VIC, coastal SA to west of Port Augusta, an area in southern WA around Bunbury in addition to several small populations in northern WA, much of Tasmania.
First Documented Recording of this American migratory species in Australia - Feb 1871 (Brisbane Courier) butterflies sighted in S.E. QLD.
Status Claire Cottage: common
Status Dorrigo Plateau: thought to be common
Butterfly Sightings:
- CLAIRE COTTAGE: Sighted. All year - more frequent Sep to May, less frequent Jun to Aug
- DORRIGO PLATEAU elsewhere: as for Claire Cottage
Larva Sightings:
- CLAIRE COTTAGE: Nov 2016, Mar 2016, 2018,
- DORRIGO PLATEAU elsewhere: None to date
Larval Food Plants:
- CLAIRE COTTAGE: APOCYNACEAE: *Gomphocarpus fruticosus (Narrow-leaved Cotton Bush)
- DORRIGO PLATEAU elsewhere: (as for Claire Cottage)
- ELSEWHERE: APOCYNACEAE - *Asclepias curassavica (Redhead Cottonbush), *Calotropis procera (weed-Northern Australia), *Gomphocarpus cancellatus (weed-Victoria-South African native), *Gomphocarpus physocarpus (Ballon Cotton Bush)
Breeding at Claire Cottage: Yes
Flight habit: Throughout the day.
Winter Sightings: 27/06/21
Interesting observations :
This is a butterfly many people are familiar with in Australia and around the world, it often visits gardens or is seen flying over open areas. It is found in many countries around the world and is well known for its long migrations from Canada to Mexico to overwinter in forest areas in very large groups. In some cooler parts of Australia Monarch butterflies also gather in large numbers to overwinter but in warmer areas they are able to breed all year round.
The Monarch butterfly is not a native to Australia but is thought to have first come here around 1871, most probably traveling on a ship or flying island to island across the Pacific. Its food plants are also introduced weeds to Australia.
Although they are strong, fast flyers, Monarchs will also glide between bursts of flight.
With their startling orange and black colouring Monarchs make a striking blaze of colour in the garden.