# Queen (*Danaus gilippus*) The Queen butterfly is a beautiful insect with orange and black wings. It loves to flutter around flowers and is often seen in gardens and parks. - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 43 - **Habitat:** Urban areas - **Also known as:** Danaus, Milkweed Butterfly ![Queen](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Danaus_gilippus-03_%28xndr%29.jpg&width=800) Photo: Svdmolen, CC BY 2.5 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Danaus_gilippus-03_%28xndr%29.jpg) ## Appearance The Queen has rich reddish-brown wings with black veins and a distinctive border of black and white spots. Its body is dark with small white spots. Unlike similar species, its hindwings lack the bold black band with white spots found on Monarch butterflies. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Lepidoptera - **Family:** Nymphalidae - **Genus:** Danaus ## Interesting facts - A male Queen butterfly has special "hair pencils" to attract a mate. - Queen caterpillars munch on toxic milkweed, but it makes them poisonous! - They perform an amazing migration, traveling hundreds of miles! - They use their long proboscis like a straw to sip sweet nectar. ## Special abilities - **Toxic Taste Shield:** Queen can store toxins from milkweed plants because of its caterpillar diet, making them unappetizing to predators. - **Chemical Caller:** Queen males have special scent scales that release pheromones because it helps them attract females for mating. - **Mimicry Master:** Queen butterflies can look very similar to Monarchs because this helps confuse predators who avoid the toxic Monarch. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 70-100 mm - **Size:** 20-35 mm - **Lifespan:** 14-60 days - **Flight Speed:** 15 km/h - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding Adult Queens sip nectar from flowers, while caterpillars feast on milkweed leaves. - **Age differences:** Caterpillars eat milkweed leaves, while adult butterflies drink flower nectar. - **Primary Foods:** flower nectar, milkweed leaves (caterpillars), water - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Depends on:** [Common Milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) — Caterpillars exclusively feed on milkweed leaves for growth and defense. - **Symbiotic with:** [Monarch butterfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/monarch-butterfly) (*Danaus plexippus*) — Looks similar to the Monarch, benefiting from its toxicity to predators. - **Symbiotic with:** European Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Shares nectar sources and contributes to general pollination efforts in habitats. - **Eaten by:** [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) — Predators, though the butterfly's toxicity often deters them after a first taste. ## Traits - [Striped](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/striped): Marked with parallel bands or lines of color. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Migratory](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/migratory): Migratory animals undertake seasonal movements from one region to another, typically in response to changes in climate or food availability. - [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces. - [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants. ## Collections - [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always watch butterflies from a distance and don't try to catch them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Queen? Compare the wing outline, spots, bands, eyespots and wing edges. The underside can look completely different from the top. Check for tails, the antennae and where the markings sit instead of relying on color alone. Butterfly Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### What is Queen's wingspan? 70-100 mm ### How big is Queen? 20-35 mm ### How long does Queen live? 14-60 days ### How fast can Queen fly? 15 km/h ### What does Queen eat? Adult Queens sip nectar from flowers, while caterpillars feast on milkweed leaves. ### Where is Queen usually found? Urban areas ### How does Queen hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Botanical Research Institute of Texas](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/botanical-research-institute-of-texas) — Texas, US · Botanical Garden - [Boyce Thompson Arboretum](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/boyce-thompson-arboretum) — Arizona, US · Botanical Garden - [Mesa Grande](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/mesa-grande) — Arizona, US · Historic Site - [Mesilla Plaza](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/mesilla-plaza) — New Mexico, US · Park - [Old Town Albuquerque](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/old-town-albuquerque) — New Mexico, US · Neighborhood - [Rattlesnake Springs Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/rattlesnake-springs-historic-district) — New Mexico, US · Historic District [View all places to see Queen](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/queen) ## More Insects - [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*) - [Spotted Lanternfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-lanternfly) (*Lycorma delicatula*) - [Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus griseocollis*) - [Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa virginica*) --- Source: [Queen: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/queen)