08 / Underside · head up · wings omitted
Six legs.
Four for walking.
Two small, curled forelegs sit near the thorax. The other four are the long walking legs. All six attach to the thorax.
A study in orange & ink / external anatomy
Monarch butterfly.
Danaus plexippus
Explore the structures behind a familiar silhouette.
A closer look below.
Hidden in the dorsal view · enlarged, simplified details
Six legs.
09 / Side detail · head faces left
A feeding tube,
curled at rest.
The proboscis sits beneath the head. It uncoils to drink nectar; it is not visible on the butterfly’s back.
About this illustration & sources
An original, stylized SVG illustration of an adult female monarch, viewed from above. Orange wings, black veins and cream-white border spots follow the monarch’s characteristic colours. Female monarchs lack the male’s black hindwing spots.
The wing pattern, leg joints and body proportions are simplified. Insets use different scales. This is an educational overview, not a specimen photograph or a precise anatomical plate.
Use the numbered labels or the part list; the list supports Tab, Enter/Space and arrow keys. Labels remain available in the list when hidden on the drawing. No automatic movement.
- Wikipedia — Monarch butterfly: species overview.
- Monarch Watch, University of Kansas — Biology: adult body regions, appendages and reduced forelegs.
- Florida Museum — Monarch: wing markings and female/male differences.