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Monarch butterfly vision: the science and the numbers

Danaus plexippus · order Lepidoptera · Insects: all the numbers

Monarch butterflies have 8 colour channels, including ultraviolet.[1][2][3] Their activity pattern is diurnal.[19][20]

See it on your photoBack to How do monarch butterflies see?
  • 8colour receptor classesMeasured*

The monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) is an insect in the order Lepidoptera. Its eyes belong to the vision type Butterfly multispectral: four or more receptor types, including red and ultraviolet. Measured in this species: colour and night vision. Measured colour or sharpness: a measured receptor set or acuity in this species; other dials come from relatives or group defaults.

This is a simulation built from published eye measurements, not what the animal experiences.

Method: How we know what animals see (the See Like Animals vision engine) · Sources · Last updated . Every value below carries its evidence level and sources; nothing is typed by hand.

What monarch butterflies see: colour receptors

Monarch butterfly colour receptor peaks, 300 to 700 nmMonarch butterfly: 8 receptor peaks at 330, 337.5, 435, 450, 525, 537.5, 570, 610 nm; you: 3 at 421.5, 532, 558.4 nm. ultraviolet300400500600700
Monarch butterfly: 330, 337.5, 435, 450, 525, 537.5, 570, 610 nmPeople: 421.5, 532, 558.4 nmWavelength in nanometres

What stands out

  • It has 8 colour receptor classes, including ultraviolet; people have 3.
  • Activity pattern: diurnal.

The six dials

Evidence levels: how the tiers work. "Measured" means a value measured in this species; "Estimated" values come from a close relative or an eye-size formula. The last column gives the values for people from the same catalogue.

Vision values for the monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus), catalogue-v1
DialValueEvidenceSourcesPeople
ColourColour receptors
8 receptor classes: 330 nm (UVS), 337.5 nm (UVS), 435 nm (VS/SWS (violet)), 450 nm (SWS (blue)), 525 nm (MWS (green)), 537.5 nm (MWS (green)), 570 nm (LWS (long)), 610 nm (LWS (long))
measured in this species
Measured (not re-verified)[1][2][3]Colour receptors: 3 receptor classes: 421.5 nm (VS/SWS (violet)), 532 nm (MWS (green)), 558.4 nm (LWS (long)) Measured (not re-verified)[4][5][6][7]
Ultraviolet
yes: at least one receptor peaks in the ultraviolet		Measured (not re-verified)
SharpnessAcuity
0.52 cycles per degree
median of 20 relatives in family Nymphalidae: Caligo memnon, Caligo eurilochus, Asterocampa leilia, Morpho peleides, Parthenos sylvia, Polygonia c-album
Estimated[8][9][10][11]Acuity: 63.75 cycles per degree Measured[12][13]
Angle between facets
0.98°
median of 9 relatives in family Nymphalidae: Caligo memnon, Caligo eurilochus, Asterocampa leilia, Morpho peleides, Parthenos sylvia, Polygonia c-album
Estimated[8]
Eye type
compound eye
Field of viewNo value in the catalogue.Binocular overlap: 122.5° Measured[14][15]
Total field of view: 200° Measured (not re-verified)[16]
Blind area behind the head: 160° Derived[16]
Eye placement: frontal Derived[14][15]
Sharp zones (foveas)Number of foveas
0
median of 91 relatives in class Insecta: Empis prodromus, Rhamphomyia albidiventris, Rhamphomyia breviventris, Rhamphomyia maculipennis, Rhamphomyia marginata, Rhamphomyia murina
Group default[17]Number of foveas: 1 Measured[18]
Fovea type: fovea Measured[18]
Fovea type
none		Group default[17]
Night visionActivity pattern
diurnal
mode of 2 rows (of 2 rows): diurnal
Measured[19][20]Activity pattern: diurnal Measured (not re-verified)[21][22][23][4][24][25][26][27]
Pupil shape: vertical Group default[28][29]
Reflective layer (tapetum): no Measured[30]
Rods vs cones: cone-dominated Derived[21][22][23][4][24][25][26][27]
Rods vs cones
no rods (invertebrate photoreceptors)
nocturnal -> rod-dominated; crepuscular / cathemeral / mixed -> mixed; diurnal -> cone-dominated
Derived[19][20]
Motion (flicker fusion)Flicker fusion frequency
187.5 Hz
median of 1 relatives in genus Danaus: Danaus chrysippus
Estimated[31]Flicker fusion frequency: 60 Hz Measured[32][33]

All insects side by side: Insects: every measurement. Method: how we know what animals see.

Sources

  1. Pirih et al. 2022
  2. van der Kooi CJ, Stavenga DG… 2021
  3. Belušič et al. 2021
  4. Longcore 2023
  5. Kirwan
  6. Müller et al. 2009
  7. Thermal Activation and Photoactivation of Visual… 2004
  8. Caves et al. 2018
  9. AndrewPMeade/FabricTools, sciphy/data_utils/datas… 2021
  10. Feller et al. 2021
  11. Wright et al. 2023
  12. Kirk et al. 2004
  13. Veilleux et al. 2014
  14. Heesy 2004
  15. Heffner et al. 1992
  16. Campbell & Green 1965
  17. Comparative data for dance fly eye…
  18. Kopania et al. 2025
  19. Feuda et al. 2016
  20. Sondhi et al. 2021
  21. Anderson et al. 2017
  22. Borges et al. 2018
  23. Wilman et al. 2014
  24. Maor et al. 2017
  25. Jones et al. 2009
  26. Schmitz et al. 2011
  27. Moura et al. 2024
  28. Banks et al. 2015
  29. Cervino et al. 2021
  30. Guareschi et al. 2025
  31. Lafitte et al. 2022
  32. Healy et al. 2013
  33. Inger et al. 2014

Every value cites its sources (all sources). Values were extracted from these works and converted (units, medians, derived values); changes are ours, and the listed sources do not endorse this site. Data: catalogue-v1, built 2026-09-29. Accuracy notes: how accurate is this? Method: how we know.