The Wanderer or Monarch Butterfly (Danaus plexippus) occurs widely throughout the world, in both the northern and southern hemispheres. In some parts of the world, most notably in North America, Wanderers are famous for their annual southward migrations to overwinter in Florida and Mexico. The Wanderer is found in eastern and southern Australia and is common wherever its larval food plants, mainly poisonous milkweeds occur. Milkweeds belong to the family Asclepiadaceae and have milky, poisonous sap that provide the caterpillars with distasteful toxins. These toxins, along with the bright yellow, black and white warning colouration of the Wanderer caterpillars deter predators although some birds are able to cope with them. The adults live for 4 to 6 weeks in summer, but also overwinter, living for several months and eating nectar to maintain their energy levels. This Wanderer Butterfly is feeding on a Bottlebrush flower in winter at Serpentine, Western Australia.