Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
Danaus plexippus

Danaus plexippus

9.2
A large orange and black butterfly that flies long distances and whose caterpillars eat milkweed
  • noun
  • /ˈdeɪnəs ˈplɛksɪpəs/
  • Specialized
translation icon : Danaus plexippus
  • The Danaus plexippus is renowned for its remarkable migration from North America to central Mexico each year.

Examples

  • Caterpillars of Danaus plexippus feed exclusively on milkweed plants.

  • Scientists tracked the movements of Danaus plexippus using tiny tags attached to their wings.

  • The Danaus plexippus is known for its remarkable migration patterns.

  • Many people admire the beauty of the Danaus plexippus.

  • Caterpillars of Danaus plexippus feed exclusively on milkweed plants.

  • Scientists tracked the movements of Danaus plexippus using tiny tags attached to their wings.

  • The Danaus plexippus is renowned for its remarkable migration from North America to central Mexico each year.

Synonyms

monarch
vsDanaus plexippus
  • US
12 5.8

A large orange butterfly with black and white edges that travels long distances

is the Latin label used alone as the formal species name
monarch butterfly
vsDanaus plexippus
  • US
4 2.2

A large orange and black butterfly that travels long distances and whose caterpillars eat milkweed

is the Latin species name rather than a common description

Surface Forms

Danaus plexippus singular
Danaus plexippuses plural

Morphology

Danaus + plexippus

This is a Latin binomial (taxonomic) name: the genus 'Danaus' and the species epithet 'plexippus' are biological labels rather than compositional English words, and 'plexippus' has no accessible lexical meaning for learners. A B1 learner who knows the surface forms would not be able to derive 'monarch butterfly' from these constituents because scientific names are arbitrary conventions that must be learned as lexical items.

Etymology

Danaus plexippus is the Latin name scientists gave to the monarch butterfly. The parts Danaus and plexippus may come from names in Greek myths that sound grand, so the name helps you remember this large, bright, migratory 'monarch' that feeds on milkweed.