Male And Female Monarch Butterfly Photos

Monarchs on the Move: Male vs. Female Differences

As the Monarch butterflies made their way through Arkansas at the end of September, I had the chance to take a couple of photos that really show off the unique features between the males and females.

Monarchs are amazing, and it’s even more incredible when you take a closer look at the subtle but important differences between them.

Male Monarch butterfly in autumn

In the first photo, you’ll see a male Monarch butterfly busy at work, nectaring on a sedum plant. Male Monarchs have two distinguishing marks that set them apart from females.

If you look closely at their hindwings, you’ll notice a pair of dark spots, one on each wing. These spots, known as androconia, are scent glands used during courtship.

The males are also a bit more slender compared to the females.

Female Monarch butterfly nectaring on flowers

Now, let’s take a look at the female. The female Monarch, which is nectaring on a Meadow Sage in the second photo, lacks those dark spots on her hindwings.

Instead, her wings are marked with thicker black veins, which give her wings a more bold and distinct look.

While both male and female Monarchs share those iconic orange and black colors, the females tend to have wings that appear slightly more robust.

Male Monarch butterfly – key difference between females

Finally, I wanted to highlight the key difference by outlining those dark spots on the male’s wings in the third photo. This close-up shows exactly where the spots are located, making it easy to tell them apart from the females at a glance. These androconia are part of what makes the male Monarch stand out during migration, each and every time I see them.

The differences between male and female Monarch butterflies may be subtle, but they’re easy to spot once you know what to look for. Whether it’s the male’s scent glands or the female’s bold veining, both are beautiful in their own unique ways.

If you happen to catch a glimpse of them nectaring on your local plants, take a moment to look closer and see which one you’re observing!

Diann MacRae asked about the differences between male and female Monarchs the last time I shared photos of a female. It took me a while, but I wanted to make sure I wrote about the differences. Today is that day.

Life is good.

Mia

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