The Monarch butterfly is a milkweed butterfly, in the family Nymphalidae. It is perhaps the best known of all North American butterflies. Since the 19th century, it has been found in New Zealand, and in Australia since 1871 where it is called the Wanderer. In Europe it is resident in the Canary Islands, the Azores, and Madeira, and is found as an occasional migrant in Western Europe. Its wings feature an easily recognizable orange and black pattern, with a wingspan of 3½–4 inches. The Viceroy butterfly has a similar size, color, and pattern, but can be distinguished by an extra black stripe across the hind wing. Female Monarchs have darker veins on their wings, and the males have a spot called the "androconium" in the center of each hind wing from which pheromones are released. Males are also slightly larger. The Monarch is famous for its southward migration and northward return in summer in the Americas which spans the life of three to four generations of the butterfly.

-From Wikipedia, December 2010.

“I chose the name Monarch for a very special reason. My Mother passed away many years ago at a very young age,and before she died, she told me that she would someday come back as a butterfly. Because of this, butterflies have been a big part of my life, and I have always been enamored with the Monarch.”

- Wayne J. Archambo, CFA