Monarch butterflies are one of the most recognizable pollinators in North America, known for the striking orange-and-black pattern that warns predators of their toxicity (a defense built from the milkweed they eat as caterpillars). Beyond their beauty, monarchs play a real ecological role: they pollinate wildflowers across their range, and their larvae depend entirely on milkweed, making them a kind of living indicator species. When monarch populations decline, it usually signals broader habitat