Bi-Coloured Skipper vs Monarch

Abantis bicolor compared with Danaus plexippus

Key Differences

Bi-Coloured Skipper is Near Threatened while Monarch is Not Evaluated.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Bi-Coloured Skipper	Monarch
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Arthropoda (Arthropods)	Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Class same	Insecta (Insects)	Insecta (Insects)
Order same	Lepidoptera (Butterflies & Moths)	Lepidoptera (Butterflies & Moths)
Family	Hesperiidae	Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)
Genus	Abantis	Danaus (Milkweed Butterflies)
Species	Abantis bicolor	Danaus plexippus

Evolutionary Relationship

Bi-Coloured Skipper and Monarch share a common ancestor at the Order level: Lepidoptera. (Butterflies & Moths)

View Order: Lepidoptera

Conservation Status

Bi-Coloured Skipper

NT — Near Threatened

Monarch

NE — Not Evaluated

Trend: Decreasing ↓

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Bi-Coloured Skipper	Monarch
Diet	—	Herbivore
Average Lifespan	—	1 years
Average Length	—	5 cm
Average Weight	—	0 g

Habitat & Geographic Range

Bi-Coloured Skipper

Habitat

Typically found in virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats.

Monarch

Habitat

Typically found in grasslands, forests, and vegetated habitats.

Range

Widely distributed across Asia (Taiwan), Europe (8 countries), North America (Canada, United States), and South America (Colombia).

Bi-Coloured Skipper

The Bi-Coloured Skipper (Abantis bicolor) is a species in the genus Abantis. It is currently classified as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List. Typically found in virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats.

Monarch

One of the world's most remarkable migratory insects, monarch butterflies undertake multigenerational round-trip migrations of up to 4,800 km between breeding grounds in northern North America and overwintering sites in Mexican mountain forests. Brilliant orange and black wings warn predators of toxicity derived from milkweed plants consumed as caterpillars. Endangered, with overwintering populations having declined by over 80% since the 1990s due to milkweed habitat loss, pesticides, and climate change.