Which order does the monarch belong to?

Which order does the monarch belong to?

• A. Lepidoptera
• B. Coleoptera
• C. Diptera
• D. Hemiptera

Answer: (B)

Monarchs are butterflies, which sit in the order Lepidoptera. This group is known for wings covered with tiny colored scales that give butterflies their distinctive patterns, a coiled proboscis for sipping nectar, and a life cycle of complete metamorphosis—egg, larva (caterpillar), pupa (chrysalis), and adult. These features distinguish them from other orders: beetles have hard wing covers called elytra, true flies have just one pair of wings, and true bugs typically have piercing-sucking mouthparts and a different wing arrangement. So the monarch belongs to Lepidoptera.

Monarchs are butterflies, which sit in the order Lepidoptera. This group is known for wings covered with tiny colored scales that give butterflies their distinctive patterns, a coiled proboscis for sipping nectar, and a life cycle of complete metamorphosis—egg, larva (caterpillar), pupa (chrysalis), and adult. These features distinguish them from other orders: beetles have hard wing covers called elytra, true flies have just one pair of wings, and true bugs typically have piercing-sucking mouthparts and a different wing arrangement. So the monarch belongs to Lepidoptera.