Monarch
Place name abbreviations: MPEA – Middle Patuxent Environment Area; PRSP – Patuxent River State Park; PVSP – Patapsco River Valley State Park.
Click on the common name to obtain additional information from the Butterflies and Moths of North America web page and the following common name for additional information from USGS web page. BugGuide is another web resource.
Legend:
| Common name [Link is to BAMONA] (wingspan range in inches) Common name [link is to USGS] |
Occurrence level & flight period. | |
| Habitat. | Typically visits (for nectaring). | Larval host plants. |
| Monarch (3.3–4.9″) Monarch |
Common: May to M-Oct | Open meadows | Milkweed & goldenrods | Milkweed | |
Male
September 12, 2008
Columbia
Cheryl Farfaras
Female
August 23, 2009
Columbia
Cheryl Farfaras
Mating
August 25, 2019
Mount Pleasant
Kevin Heffernan
Ovipositing
July 8, 2016
Murray Hill
Linda Hunt
Egg
August 16, 2015
Lake Elkhorn
Richard Orr
Caterpillar
September 3, 2017
Robinson Nature Center
Pamela Franks
Caterpillar
September 13, 2009
Fox Chase
Bonnie Ott
Pupating soon
September 14, 2020
Ellicott City
Kristin Trouton
Getting ready
September 14, 2020
Ellicott City
Kristin Trouton
New chrysalis
September 14, 2020
Ellicott City
Kristin Trouton
Chrysalis
July 30, 2016
Mount Pleasant
Kevin Heffernan
Eclosure video by David Ryan on September 29, 2020 in Ellicott City
Pupating video by David Ryan on August 26, 2021 in Ellicott City
Monarch Caterpillar Eating Milkweed Flower and Buds by Annette Allor on June 28, 2023 at Mt. Pleasant.
The phenograms show the maximum number of individual butterflies of this species seen in the first eight years of the Howard County Butterfly Survey. From these graphs, one can see the number of broods of each species, when they are active, and the relative abundance of the species in each brood. The observed early and late dates are shown below The graphs can be used to anticipate the first sighting of a given species in the year and can help with identification.
Early: 4/15/2021 Late: 11/18/2021