Which butterfly family includes monarch butterflies?

Monarch butterflies belong to the family Nymphalidae.

Nymphalidae is commonly called the brush-footed butterfly family, and it is one of the largest butterfly families. Its members include monarchs, admirals, tortoiseshells, fritillaries, painted ladies, and many other familiar butterflies.

The family’s reduced front legs are held close to the body, which explains the name “brush-footed” and the common impression that these butterflies have only four usable legs. Monarchs are placed in the subfamily Danainae, alongside several related milkweed butterflies.

Family classification is broader than a species name. The monarch’s scientific name is Danaus plexippus, while Nymphalidae identifies its larger evolutionary group. This distinction prevents a common mistake: a family can contain many genera and hundreds or thousands of species.