The Monarch Butterfly is one of the most familiar North American butterflies. It is an iconic pollinator whose lifespan is 2 to 6 weeks. All Monarchs are orange but not all orange butterflies are Monarchs. With its bright colors, the monarch sends a specific message - toxicity.  The toxins contained in milkweed, the favorite of the monarch, gives the caterpillar a bad taste so most predators leave it alone.