Danaus plexippus
Auburn, Alabama

Note: In August, the Center for Biological Diversity, joined by the Xerces Society, filed a petition with the US Fish and Wildlife Service to place the butterfly under the protection of the Endangered Species Act.
This is in light of the fact that the Monarch has declined by an estimated 90 percent from the 20-year average since the mid-1990s (Source, The Xerces Society).
Let us all do our part to protect these beautiful creatures.

Note: The male can be distinguished from the female by the two highly visable black spots on the insect's hind wings and the thinner black webbing within the wings.