(Danaus plexippus)
Conservation • Description • Habitat • Biology • Links • Distribution • Taxonomy
Description |
Monarch is a large, widely recognized, migratory butterfly. Adults have a wingspan of 3⅜″ to 4¼″. The male is slightly larger than the female. The upperside of both wings is orange with heavy black veins. The veins of the male are thinner and well defined and, while those of the female are thicker blurred. The subapical area of the forewing has four small, pale orange spots and a small white or pale orange spot. They are arranged as two short lines of spots. The outer margin has a broad, black border with two submarginal rows of white spots. The leading edge (costal) margin has a broad, black border with five white spots near the middle. The inner margin has a broad black border on with no spots. There is no V-shaped indentation on the leading edge of the forewing cell. The upper side of the hindwing has a broad, black border on the outer margin with two rows of white spots. There is no curved, black postmedial line. On males there is a small, black, oval, scent patch on a vein near the center of the hindwing. The underside of both wings is similarly marked but the hindwing and the tip of the forewing are pale orange. Seen from above, the body is black with four white spots and a short, thin, white vertical stripe on the thorax; and a thin, interrupted, white band separating each abdominal segment. The head, seen from above, is black, with a band of four white spots near the “neck” and a single white spot between the antennae bases. The spots on the thorax, with three of the head spots, form an inverted V shape. The eyes and legs are black. The caterpillar is up to 2″ long, uniquely colored, and easily recognized. The thorax and abdomen are boldly banded in yellow, black, and white. The head is banded in yellow and black. There is a pair of long, black, fleshy, whip-like tentacles (filaments) extending from the upper (dorsal) surface of the second thoracic segment and a a similar but shorter pair extending from the eighth abdominal segment. The prolegs are black with a single, large, white spot. Mature caterpillars are found from about June 20th to the end of August. |
Size |
3⅜″ to 4¼″ wingspan |
Similar Species |
Viceroy (Limenitis archippus) is smaller, with a wingspan of no more than 3¼″. There is a single row of white spots in the black border on the outer margin and a single row of 2 to 4 white spots in the subapical area. There is a curved, black, postmedial line on the hindwing. |
Habitat |
Fields, meadows, weedy areas, marshes, roadsides, and other open areas. |
Biology |
Season |
Three or four overlapping generations: |
Behavior |
Adults have a powerful flight and often sail with their wings held in a V-formation. |
Life Cycle |
The male patrols in search of receptive females. After mating, the female lays green eggs singly on the underside of host plant leaves. The larva molts four times before pupating. Mature caterpillars of the first brood are found beginning about June 20th. They pupate by July. Mature caterpillars of the second brood appear by August 15th. They pupate by the end of August. |
Larva Hosts |
Leaves and flowers of milkweed (Asclepias spp.). The caterpillar stores cardiac glycosides, present in all milkweeds, in its body. This makes the caterpillar and adult poisonous and unpalatable to potential predators. |
Adult Food |
Flower nectar |
Links |
Distribution |
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Sources |
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8/6/2022 | ||
Occurrence |
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Common and widespread |
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Migration |
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In September, adults of the third or fourth generation of the eastern population of Monarchs begin congregating in large numbers on the foliage of trees and shrubs near water. By the end of October they have left the state in a mass migration to their winter grounds. They arrive at one of thirteen small overwintering sites in the Sierra Madre mountains between 43 and 105 miles west of Mexico City, Mexico. The following spring the same butterflies begin a northward migration. They lay eggs that will become the first generation in northern Mexico and southern United States between late March and late April. First generation monarchs begin to arrive in Minnesota around mid-May. Northward migrating butterflies arrive in Minnesota around mid-May. They are of a more recent (first) generation, rarely if ever the same individuals (third or fourth generation) that migrated south. |
Taxonomy |
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Order |
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Superfamily |
Papilionoidea (butterflies) |
Family |
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Subfamily |
Danainae (monarchs) |
Tribe |
Danaini (milkweed butterflies) |
Subtribe | Danaina |
Genus |
Danaus |
Subgenus | Danaus |
Subordinate Taxa |
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monarch (Danaus plexippus leucogyne) monarch (Danaus plexippus megalippe) monarch (Danaus plexippus nigrippus) monarch (Danaus plexippus plexippus) monarch (Danaus plexippus portoricensis) monarch (Danaus plexippus tobagi) |
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There are several subspecies of Monarch in Central America that do not migrate. Danaus plexippus plexippus is the only subspecies found outside of Central America. |
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Synonyms |
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Common Names |
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monarch monarch butterfly |
Glossary
Filament
On plants: The thread-like stalk of a stamen which supports the anther. On Lepidoptera: One of a pair of long, thin, fleshy extensions extending from the thorax, and sometimes also from the abdomen, of a caterpillar.
Proleg
A fleshy structure on the abdomen of some insect larvae that functions as a leg, but lacks the five segments of a true insect leg.
Pupa
The life stage of some insects undergoing transformation. In caterpillars, the chrysalis.
Visitor Photos |
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Bobbi Johnson |
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The monarch was in the last vestige of the Joe Pye Weed |
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Luciearl |
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Monarch caterpillar on milkweed. |
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Dan W. Andree |
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A Monarch on Blanket Flowers... Earlier in June I seen this Monarch at Frenchman’s Bluff SNA but since have only seen a pair mating earlier in June and one other one just flying across the prairie. While the prairie has really grown some of the main flower species are just budding out and last time I was out there maybe 5% of the wild bergamot were flowering. There is a lot of bergamot and other species but haven’t blossomed out really. |
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That will change fast though. You can see the blanket flowers were blurred somewhat due to rather breezy too darn right windy at times on that day. The Monarch was a male because when its wings were open it had a dark blackish spot on each lower wing area. Fed for a very short time and flew off in the wind. |
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Monarch & Regal... I just put this photo write-up together. I felt since many are familiar with the monarch showing a monarch with a regal fritillary may get more people familiar with that species too. They are a couple of butterflies I seen on one of my outdoor adventures in Norman Co. Mn. |
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I may put together a video in the future with both the monarch and regal fritillary butterflies in the same video. Since regals pretty much remain on prairies they are seen much less than the monarchs which can be found in a variety of areas. But the regal fritillary is quite beautiful particularly early in its life. They do get really tough looking and almost unrecognizable near the end of their life. But they certainly are worthy of preservation just like the monarch. |
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“Mating Monarchs” I seen several Monarchs at Frenchman’s Bluff SNA on 8-13-22 a few were at the beginning of the hike but the majority of them were on the far side slope of the big hill going down. There were so many flowers blooming and I counted at least a dozen Monarchs just feeding and seen 3 pairs mating. So to me it is a typical year for the Monarch at that site. In fact the Monarch was the most abundant species seen. I only seen 2 Varigated Fritillaries and one small yellow butterfly. No other species other than the abundance of Monarchs which were easy to spot. I think there are other species threatened and endangered that go unnoticed. The Regal Fritillary being one. |
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“Monarch Butterfly” |
“Mating Monarch Butterflies” I do not see that many Monarch butterflies in a lot of areas. I read they were declining. I was glad to come across some at Frenchman’s Bluff - Scientific and Natural Area in rural Norman Co. Mn. |
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Monarch Caterpillar... Seen it feeding on milkweed June 25, 2022 out at Frenchman’s Bluff SNA. |
Mating Monarchs... Seen a couple pairs mating this is one pair. Aug. 1, 2022 on a prairie in Norman Co. Mn. |
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Monarch Butterfly - Sandpiper Prairie SNA in Norman Co. Mn. |
Kirk Nelson |
Mike Poeppe |
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Rick Thome |
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found these flowers with dozen monarchs feeding on deep in pond grass |
Alfredo Colon |
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Lynn Rubey |
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A Monarch Caterpillar on a Milkweed plant in The Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge. Milkweed plants are essential for the Monarch's survival since the caterpillars eat only Milkweed. |
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A female Monarch on a blade of grass between the Pool 7 and the West Pool in The Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge, there are several Milkweed plants nearby that the Monarch needs for survival. |
Gerry Garcia |
SaraBug |
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Found 3 monarch eggs on the only milkweed plant in my yard! 2 of 3 hatched the next day, and the third one is about to hatch today (7/17/19). |
Norm & Peg Dibble |
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Here’s some neat photos that Norm took of a Monarch chrysalis that was on the back garden fence, a surprising distance from our only Swamp Milkweed plant. | ||
Then there was also another one very high up on our shed at the eaves. At least it found some shade there. We were able to photograph many stages of the Monarch as it came out of the chrysalis and worked slowly to open its wings. |
Margot Avey |
Trisha |
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Monarch Butterfly |
Robert Briggs |
Monarch butterfly at Spring Lake Park Reserve on October 29th. It seems awfully late in the season to be seeing these. |
Wayne Rasmussen |
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Monarch on swamp milkweed |
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Monarch on swamp milkweed | Joy Park summer wildflowers and insects are available for viewing |
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Monarchs can be found all over Minnesota. The first was found in rural Dodge County and the other in Maplewood on the Bruentrop Historical Site. Our home and Maplewood Hts Park was once part of the Bruentrop farm. | ||
Bill Reynolds |
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This is a Monarch caterpillar on Common Milkweed. |
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There is a pretty good sized Bull Thistle patch near where I live that the bees and butterflies are working pretty hard. |
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Tom Baker |
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MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos |
Adult |
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Adult |
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Caterpillar |
Caterpillar |
Slideshows |
Monarch Metamorphosis |
Danaus plexippus (Monarch) |
Monarch Butterfly Emerges |
About
Chrissy found a Monarch butterfly chrysalis in our backyard on 10/17/14. We took it into our home for a better chance at survival. A male Monarch butterfly emerged from this chrysalis and was released by us on 10/28/14. Every photo is in sequence chronologically. This was a gut-wrenchingly beautiful experience that we are so grateful to have witnessed - and participated in. We are so grateful to the BugGuide community on Facebook for holding our hands through this. |
Monarch |
Visitor Videos |
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Gerry Garcia |
monarch 01 |
monarch 02 |
Dan W. Andree |
"Monarch & Viceroy Butterflies" Filmed by Dan W Andree |
Other Videos |
Monarch Butterflies Migration Google Earth Tour |
About
Published on Apr 26, 2013 A story about the migration of the eastern population of monarch butterflies in North America, and the people that help them out along the way. This Google Earth Tour was produced by Atlantic Public Media ( http:// www.atlantic.org) in cooperation with the Encyclopedia of Life (http:// www.eol.org) Learning + Education group located at the Harvard Museum of Comparative Zoology. Producers: Eduardo Garcia-Milagros & Ari Daniel Shapiro Download the Google Earth Tour KMZ file: [taxonomy:binomial=Danaus plexippus] |
Complete Life Cycle of the Monarch Butterfly |
About
Uploaded on May 23, 2008 The entire lifecycle of the Monarch butterfly from a tiny caterpillar hatching from an egg on a Milkweed leaf through metamorphosis to become a glorious adult butterfly. Filmed utilizing high powered microscopic cameras and time-lapse photography. Produced for the Chicago Nature Museum in Chicago, IL. |
Why fewer monarch butterflies are surviving their winter migration to Mexico |
About
Published on Dec 24, 2013 View more on Monarch butterflies. http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/environment/july-dec13/monarch_12-24.html Monarch butterflies migrate to warmer regions each winter, but in recent years Mexico has seen far fewer monarch arrivals. Environmental changes have eliminated the butterflies' sources of food and shelter along the way. Independent video journalist Ross Velton reports on efforts to help monarchs survive their journey south. |
Monarch Butterflies |
About
Uploaded on Dec 31, 2008 The monarch butterfly's wintering grounds in Mexico are in peril. Are the monarchs in trouble too? See All National Geographic Videos http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/?source=4001 |
Visitor Sightings |
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Report a sighting of this insect. |
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Bobbi Johnson 10/13/2024 |
Location: Silver Bay, MN The monarch was in the last vestige of the Joe Pye Weed |
Kristin Mikelyn Martinson |
Location: Buffalo, MN near Crawford Lake Many many many Monarch butterflies coming to our late blooming Lilac bush in the front yard the past few days. It is so neat to see them here again.! |
Luciearl 6/24/2024 |
Location: Fairview Twp |
Dan W. Andree |
Location: Frenchman’s Bluff SNA Earlier in June I seen this Monarch at Frenchman’s Bluff SNA but since have only seen a pair mating earlier in June and one other one just flying across the prairie. While the prairie has really grown some of the main flower species are just budding out and last time I was out there maybe 5% of the wild bergamot were flowering. There is a lot of bergamot and other species but haven’t blossomed out really. That will change fast though. You can see the blanket flowers were blurred somewhat due to rather breezy too darn right windy at times on that day. The Monarch was a male because when its wings were open it had a dark blackish spot on each lower wing area. Fed for a very short time and flew off in the wind. |
A/C Christian
Church of
Minneapolis 7/22/2023 |
Location: Westwood Hills Nature Center At the Westwood Hills Nature Center, we saw some life on July 22 this year. This was all found by the A/C Christian Church of Minneapolis. |
Mike Poeppe 9/17/2022 |
Location: near Houston, MN |
Dan W. Andree 8/21/2022 |
At Frenchman’s Bluff SNA. I had no idea what it was. At first from a distance thought it might be a darker colored Variegated Fritillary but got closer to it and seen it was a butterfly I had never seen before. Its colors reminded or made me think of fall harvest decorations. Like fall color leafs and orange and brown etc. colors pumpkin colors etc. Beautiful butterfly. Also for a first time seen some Common Copper Butterflies at Twin Valley Prairie SNA. I filmed and photographed them they were little and really cute. I got some photos of that Tortoiseshell so will see how they turned out I filmed it but not sure if I got it very good. I haven’t uploaded the footage to a larger monitor. I know the Common Copper photos and video is really nice so hope some of the Milbert’s Tortoiseshell is nice to. I do think some photos will be but not so sure about the video. Seen so many Monarch’s at both SNA’s mentioned here. I swear a couple hundred or more. They were feeding on mostly prairie blazing star flowers. I could carefully walk through areas and monarchs flew up 3-6 feet in front of me. Some just sat and fed if I was motionless. Not a very spooky butterfly. A few were still mating but most feeding. Must have been a hatch out or something. Didn’t see any regals and haven’t seen any at all at Frenchman’s this whole season but did see a few males at the other mentioned SNA which was nice to see. Monarchs seem to be doing extremely well in the two mention SNA’s which is good but some other lesser known species not so much. Monarchs were the only species of large butterflies seen. Only seen 2 painted ladies which sometimes they can be all over the place but not a whole lot of species observed this season other than the Monarchs and happy to say lots of them. Concerning though for the other species. … Seen the Tortoiseshell and Common Coppers yesterday mid afternoon to late afternoon. |
Dan W. Andree 8/13/2022 |
Location: Frenchman’s Bluff SNA I seen several Monarchs at Frenchman’s Bluff SNA on 8-13-22 a few were at the beginning of the hike but the majority of them were on the far side slope of the big hill going down. There were so many flowers blooming and I counted at least a dozen Monarchs just feeding and seen 3 pairs mating. So to me it is a typical year for the Monarch at that site. In fact the Monarch was the most abundant species seen. I only seen 2 Varigated Fritillaries and one small yellow butterfly. No other species other than the abundance of Monarchs which were easy to spot. I think there are other species threatened and endangered that go unnoticed. The Regal Fritillary being one. |
Dan W. Andree 6/25/2022 |
Location: Frenchman’s Bluff SNA Seen it feeding on milkweed June 25, 2022 out at Frenchman’s Bluff SNA. |
Dan W. Andree 8/1/2022 |
Location: Norman Co. Mn. Seen a couple pairs mating this is one pair. Aug. 1, 2022 on a prairie in Norman Co. Mn. |
Kirk Nelson 8/28/2021 |
Location: Whitetail Woods Regional Park |
Mike Poeppe 7/11/2021 |
Location: Houston County, MN |
Rick Thome 9/6/2020 |
Location: Independence MN |
Luciearl 7/6/2020 |
Location: Lake Shore, MN Monarch caterpillar on milkweed. |
Alfredo Colon 10/6/2019 |
Location: Woodbury, Minnesota |
Alfredo Colon 9/29/2019 |
Location: Woodbury, Minnesota |
Mary Ann 8/28/2019 |
Location: Loring Park August 26, 27 and 28—congregations of 5-7 Monarchs floating on a strong breeze and basking in sun on lower branches of Elm trees in Loring Park. |
Dan W. Andree 8/10/2019 |
Location: Frenchman’s Bluff Scientific and Natural Area in rural Norman Co. Mn I do not see that many Monarch butterflies in a lot of areas. I read they were declining. I was glad to come across some at Frenchman’s Bluff - Scientific and Natural Area in rural Norman Co. Mn. |
Lynn Rubey 8/9/2019 |
Location: Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge A Monarch Caterpillar on a Milkweed plant in The Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge. Milkweed plants are essential for the Monarch's survival since the caterpillars eat only Milkweed. |
Lynn Rubey 8/4/2019 |
Location: Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge A female Monarch on a blade of grass between the Pool 7 and the West Pool in The Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge, there are several Milkweed plants nearby that the Monarch needs for survival. |
Gerry Garcia 8/4/2019 |
Location: Lyndale Park, Minneapolis, MN |
SaraBug 7/15/2019 |
Location: Minneapolis Found 3 monarch eggs on the only milkweed plant in my yard! 2 of 3 hatched the next day, and the third one is about to hatch today (7/17/19). |
Norm & Peg Dibble 7/15/2019 |
Location: Maple Grove, MN Then there was also another one very high up on our shed at the eaves. At least it found some shade there. We were able to photograph many stages of the Monarch as it came out of the chrysalis and worked slowly to open its wings. |
Alfredo Colon 6/10/2018 |
Location: Woodbury, Minnesota |
Dan W. Andree 2017 |
Location: Sandpiper Prairie SNA in Norman Co. Mn. |
Margot Avey 8/31/2017 |
Location: Lake Harriet |
Marilyn Carlson 8/30/2017 |
Location: Annandale, MN When can I safely pull out the milkweed plants that are growing in my flower garden? I would really like to get milkweed growing along side our driveway ditch so it can grow basically wild with no problem of being cut or pulled out or sprayed. As it is really starting to take over my flower garden. If I take the milkweed pods/seeds and sprinkle them in this area what are the chances of the growing next spring? We are seeing some Monarchs at this time (8-30-2017) |
Trisha 12/6/2016 |
Monarch Butterfly |
Robert Briggs 10/29/2016 |
Location: Spring Lake Park Reserve It seems awfully late in the season to be seeing these. |
Wayne Rasmussen 7/29/2016 |
Location: Joy Park |
Wayne Rasmussen 7/26/2016 |
Location: Joy Park
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Wayne Rasmussen 7/20/2016 |
Location: Joy Park Joy Park summer wildflowers and insects are available for viewing |
Wayne Rasmussen 8/10/2014 |
Location: Dodge County Monarchs can be found all over Minnesota. The first was found in rural Dodge County and the other in Maplewood on the Bruentrop Historical Site. Our home and Maplewood Hts Park was once part of the Bruentrop farm. |
Bill Reynolds 9/5/2015 |
Location: Pennington Co. There is a pretty good sized Bull Thistle patch near where I live that the bees and butterflies are working pretty hard. |
Crystal Boyd 6/10 and 6/11/2013 |
Location: Uncas Dunes SNA |
Bill Reynolds 6/21/2012 |
Location: Pennington Co. This is a Monarch caterpillar on Common Milkweed. |
MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings |
Avon Hills Forest SNA, North Unit Badoura Jack Pine Woodland SNA Bertram Chain of Lakes Regional Park Blazing Star Prairie Addition Preserve, South Unit Carpenter St. Croix Valley Nature Center Carver Highlands WMA, South Unit Charles A. Lindbergh State Park Clifton E. French Regional Park Felton Prairie SNA, Bicentennial Unit Felton Prairie SNA, Shrike Unit John Peter Hoffman Spring Brook Valley WMA Kellogg Weaver Dunes SNA, Kellogg Weaver Unit Margherita Preserve-Audubon Prairie Minnesota Valley NWR, Louisville Swamp Unit Minnesota Valley NWR, Rapids Lake Unit Minnesota Valley NWR, Wilkie Unit Mound Spring Prairie SNA, North Unit Northern Tallgrass Prairie NWR, Hoffman Unit Northern Tallgrass Prairie NWR, Pavia Unit Northern Tallgrass Prairie NWR, Rengstorf Unit Northern Tallgrass Prairie NWR, Spieker Unit Northern Tallgrass Prairie NWR, Touch the Sky Prairie Unit Pankratz Memorial Prairie, North Unit Pembina Trail Preserve SNA, Crookston Prairie Unit Pembina Trail Preserve SNA, Pembina Trail Unit Prairie Creek WMA, Koester Prairie Unit Richard M. & Mathilde Rice Elliott SNA Sand Prairie Wildlife Management and Environmental Education Area Two Rivers Aspen Prairie Parkland SNA Verlyn Marth Memorial Prairie SNA |
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