How to tell male and female Monarch butterflies is quite straightforward once you know what to look for. There are two main features to examine:
1. How to Tell Male from Female by Wing Pattern
Both male and female Monarchs have orange wings with black veins, but the patterns are slightly different. Male Monarchs have thinner black webbing within their wings, while females have thicker webbing.
2. How to Tell Male from Female by Hind Wings
The most distinctive way to tell the sexes apart is by looking at the Monarch’s hind wings. Males have a small, black spot on each of their hind wings, near the center. These spots are scent glands used in mating and are not present in female Monarchs.
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So, if you see a Monarch butterfly with small black spots on the hind wings and slightly thinner black webbing, it’s a male. If the black webbing is thicker and there are no spots on the hind wings, it’s a female. Know you know how to tell male from female Monarch butterflies.
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