What is "danais plexippus"

monarch butterfly \mon"arch but"ter*fly\, n. (Zo["o]l.) A very large red and black butterfly ( Danais Plexippus) having striking orange-brown wings with black veins in a reticulated pattern; -- called also milkweed butterfly and monarch. Its larvae feed on the leaves of the milkweed.

Monarch \Mon"arch\, n. [F. monarque, L. monarcha, fr. Gr. ?, ?; mo`nos alone + ? to be first, rule, govern. See Archi-.]

1. A sole or supreme ruler; a sovereign; the highest ruler; an emperor, king, queen, prince, or chief.

   He who reigns Monarch in heaven, . . . upheld by old repute.
   --Milton.

2. One superior to all others of the same kind; as, an oak is called the monarch of the forest.

3. A patron deity or presiding genius.

   Come, thou, monarch of the vine, Plumpy Bacchus.
   --Shak.

4. (Zo["o]l.) A very large red and black butterfly ( Danais Plexippus); -- called also milkweed butterfly and monarch butterfly.