Monarch butterfl laying an egg on a milkweed plant.
Rights: Keith Moore, Monarch Butterfly NZ Trust Published 16 May 2010 Size: 250 KB Referencing Hub media

Monarch butterflies lay their eggs on swan plants and other milkweeds. Females lay between 300–400 eggs at a rate of about 40 per day.

    Appears in

    ARTICLE

    Monarch butterflies

    New Zealand’s most identifiable butterfly is the monarch (Danaus plexippus). Although found in many places around the world, the monarch is considered a New Zealand native because it became ...

    READ MORE
    MORE
    Add to favourites
    Add to collection
  1. + Create new collection
    2. ACTIVITY

    Tagging monarch butterflies for science

    In this activity, students place small stickers (tags) onto caught or newly emerged monarch butterflies and release them into the environment. The tag number, information about the butterfly and ...

    READ MORE
    MORE
    Add to favourites
    Add to collection
  2. + Create new collection
    3. TEACHER PLD

    Butterflies (upper primary) – unit plan

    This unit plan is designed for students in years 6–8. When someone mentions the word ‘butterfly’, what image pops into your head? Chances are it’s the monarch or the white butterfly, as these are ...

    READ MORE
    MORE
    Add to favourites
    Add to collection
  3. + Create new collection
      4. Go to full glossary
      Download all
      Email Us

      See our newsletters here.