Wildlife Gardening/Taxon/Danaus plexippus/Identification

Identification

See dedicated page: Identification

The monarch is closely related to several similar-looking butterfly species whose ranges abut or overlap with its own. It also has a Müllerian mimic, the viceroy, whose similar toxicity and coloration discourages predators from hunting either species.

Taxa similar to monarchs
Similar caterpillar	Similar chrysalis	Similar adult	Distinctions
Danaus affinis, or the Malay tiger butterfly. Caterpillar pictured.	D. affinis chrysalis.	D. affinis adult.	Brief note on connection between taxon and article taxon, caterpillar distinctions, chrysalis distinctions, adult distinctions.
Danaus chrysippus, or the common tiger. Caterpillar pictured.	D. chrysippus chrysalis.	D. cannabinum adult.	Brief note on connection between taxon and article taxon, caterpillar distinctions, chrysalis distinctions, adult distinctions.
Danaus cleophile, or Jamaican monarch. No compatibly-licensed caterpillar image is currently available.	D. cleophile chrysalis. No compatibly-licensed chrysalis image is currently available.	D. cleophile adult.	Brief note on connection between taxon and article taxon, caterpillar distinctions, chrysalis distinctions, adult distinctions.
Danaus eresimus, or tropical queen. Caterpillar pictured.	D. eresimus chrysalis.	D. eresimus adult.	Brief note on connection between taxon and article taxon, caterpillar distinctions, chrysalis distinctions, adult distinctions.
Danaus erippus, or southern monarch. Caterpillar pictured.	D. erippus chrysalis.	D. erippus adult.	Brief note on connection between taxon and article taxon, caterpillar distinctions, chrysalis distinctions, adult distinctions.
Danaus genutia, or common tiger. Caterpillar pictured.	D. genutia chrysalis.	D. genutia adult.	Brief note on connection between taxon and article taxon, caterpillar distinctions, chrysalis distinctions, adult distinctions.
Danaus gilippus, or queen. Caterpillar pictured.	D. gilippus chrysalis.	D. gilippus adult.	Brief note on connection between taxon and article taxon, caterpillar distinctions, chrysalis distinctions, adult distinctions.
Danaus melanippus, or white tiger. Caterpillar pictured.	D. melanippus chrysalis.	D. melanippus adult.	Brief note on connection between taxon and article taxon, caterpillar distinctions, chrysalis distinctions, adult distinctions.
Danaus petilia, or lesser wanderer. Caterpillar pictured.	D. petilia chrysalis.	D. petilia adult.	Brief note on connection between taxon and article taxon, caterpillar distinctions, chrysalis distinctions, adult distinctions.
Limenitis archippus, or viceroy. Caterpillar pictured.	L. archippus chrysalis.	L. archippus adult.	Brief note on connection between taxon and article taxon, caterpillar distinctions, chrysalis distinctions, adult distinctions.
Speyeria nokomis, or nokomis fritillary. Caterpillar pictured.	S. nokomis chrysalis.	S. nokomis adult.	Brief note on connection between taxon and article taxon, caterpillar distinctions, chrysalis distinctions, adult distinctions.

Speyeria cybele Speyeria aphrodite Speyeria idalia Speyeria nokomis Speyeria edwardsii Speyeria coronis Speyeria zerene Speyeria carolae Speyeria callippe Speyeria egleis Speyeria adiaste Speyeria hydaspe Speyeria mormonia Speyeria hesperis Speyeria atlantis