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Danaus gilippus (Cramer, 1775)
Queen
Florida native
The queen butterfly is a resident of Florida and southern California south through Central America and the West Indies, into South America as far as Argentina. During the warmer seasons they migrate out of this range into much of the United States except for the most northern regions.
Along with monarchs and soldiers, queens are a member of the subfamily Danainae also known as the milkweed butterflies. Host plants are both herbs and vines of the dogbane (Apocynaceae) family, which includes milkweeds. The diet makes both the caterpillar and butterfly extrememly distasteful to predators. This tactic is so successful that the viceroy butterfly in its southern range mimics the queen.
Danaus gilippus is a member of the Nymphalidae - Brush-footed butterflies family.
Other species of the Danaus genus in the Wild Florida Photo database:
Danaus eresimus - SOLDIER
Danaus plexippus - MONARCH
iNaturalist profile for this species
For more information on this species, visit the following link:
Bugguide.net page for this species
Date record last modified: Jul 07, 2025
