Description

Butterfly, Danaus plexippus, Common South American Monarch Butterfly mounted on glass in a Black wooden frame.

The beautifully classic Common Monarch, spread and mounted on glass, and placed in a black wooden frame.  The frame measures approximately 4 5/8 inches wide and 4 5/8 inches long.

You will receive this exact specimen, or one like it.

We do not make this particular style of frame.  As mentioned, the specimens are mounted on glass, rather than a mat, and the frames may have slight imperfections (please ask us for close up photos of the frame if you’d like to see any).  The manufacturer of these frames has chosen to replace the body and antennae of their butterflies with an artificial product, to avoid breakage/damage in transit.

We love this line for their beautiful specimens as well as their great price point.  These frames are very popular in the store!

The North American Monarch is now a protected species, but this is the non, or localized movement South American Monarch, and is not endangered or protected.

The South American Danaus plexippus refers to populations of the monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) found throughout parts of South America. The monarch is a well-known butterfly species famous for its striking orange-and-black wings and remarkable migratory behavior—primarily studied in North America—but it also has populations across Central and South America.

Overview of Danaus plexippus in South America:

1. Distribution:

• In South America, monarchs are found in countries such as Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, Colombia, Venezuela, and Ecuador.
• Unlike their North American counterparts, which undergo long-distance migrations, South American monarchs are generally non-migratory or engage in only localized movement in response to seasonal changes.

2. Behavior:

• They breed year-round in tropical and subtropical areas where milkweed is available.
• Populations in temperate parts of southern South America may exhibit limited migratory behavior, though this is not as well-documented or dramatic as the migration to Mexico seen in North America.

3. Habitat and Host Plants:

• Like other monarchs, South American monarchs rely on milkweed plants (Asclepias spp.) as their larval host. These plants contain toxic compounds (cardenolides) that make the butterflies distasteful to predators.
• The spread of both native and non-native milkweeds has helped sustain monarch populations in various environments.

4. Differences from North American Monarchs:

• Reduced or absent migration: The iconic multi-generational migration from Canada/USA to Mexico is not seen in the South.
• Genetic and morphological variations may exist, but South American monarchs are generally still considered the same species as the North American monarch.
• Research suggests some D. plexippus populations in South America may have originated from North American monarchs, potentially via dispersal.

5. Conservation Status:

• South American monarchs are not currently considered endangered, but habitat loss and the use of pesticides (particularly those that affect milkweed) could pose future threats.
• Climate change and habitat fragmentation may also influence population dynamics and distribution.

Papilio blumei, Green Swallowtail Butterfly Specimen

South American Monarch Butterfly frame.