Queen (butterfly)
| Queen | |
|---|---|
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Nymphalidae |
| Subfamily: | Danainae |
| Tribe: | Danaini |
| Genus: | Danaus |
| Species: | D. gilippus |
| Binomial name | |
| Danaus gilippus (Cramer, 1775) |
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The Queen (Danaus gilippus) is a species of butterfly. It belongs in the family Nymphalidae. It is found in North America, Central America, and South America.[1][2]
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Description [change]
The upper side of the wings is dark reddish-brown. It has black wing borders. Males have an androconium (a spot that releases scents to attract females) on each of his hind wings (bottom wings). The underside of the wings is reddish-brown. The wings have black borders. There are white spots in the black borders. The hind wing has black veins.[1]
Similar species [change]
The Monarch (Danaus plexippus) is orange. It has thick, black veins.[1]
The Viceroy (Limenitis archippus) is smaller. It has thick, black veins. It has a black band across the hind wing.[1]
The Soldier (Danaus eresimus) has thin black veins. On the underside of the hind wing, there is a row of pale, square-shaped spots.[1]
Flight period [change]
The Queen can be seen all year in Texas, Arizona, and southern Florida.[3][4][5] It is seen from February to December in northern Florida.[3] It is seen from April to November in southern California and southern Nevada.[4]
Habitat [change]
This butterfly can be found in open places such as open woodlands, fields, deserts, marshes, and forest edges.[4][3]
Life cycle [change]
The female lays her eggs singly. They are laid on the leaves, stems, and flowers of the host plant (the host plant is the plant that the caterpillar feeds on). The egg is pale green.[4] The caterpillar is banded with yellow and black. There are three pairs of black body extensions. The first pair is near the head. The second pair is on the thorax. The third pair is near the end of the body.[6] The chrysalis is green. It has gold spots. There is a black and gold band on the abdomen. It is very similar to the Monarch's chrysalis.[4] It has three or more broods (a brood is a group of offspring) per year.[1][3]
Host plants [change]
Here is a list of host plants that the Queen caterpillar feeds on:
- Asclepias albicans - White-stem Milkweed
- Asclepias amplexicaulis - Clasping Milkweed
- Asclepias asperula - Antelope Horns
- Asclepias curassavica - Scarlet Milkweed
- Asclepias erosa - Desert Milkweed
- Asclepias fascicularis - Narrow-leaf Milkweed
- Asclepias humistrata - Sandhill Milkweed
- Asclepias nivea - Caribbean Milkweed
- Asclepias subulata - Rush Milkweed
- Asclepias tuberosa - Butterfly Weed
- Calotropis procera - Apple of Sodom
- Cynanchum angustifolium - Sand Vine
- Matelea carolinensis - Maroon Carolina Milkvine
- Matelea hirsuta
- Sarcostemma clausum - White Vine
- Sarcostemma cynanchoides - Vining Milkweed
- Sarcostemma hirtellum - Rambling Milkweed [4][5]
References [change]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Jim P. Brock and Kenn Kaufman (2003). Butterflies of North America. Houghton Mifflin, New York, NY. ISBN 0618254005
- ↑ Jeffery Glassberg (2007). A Swift Guide to the Butterflies of Mexico and Central America. Sunstreak Books Inc. ISBN 1424-30915-8
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Rick Cech and Guy Tutor (2005). Butterflies of the East Coast. Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ. ISBN 0-691-09055-6
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 James A. Scott (1986). The Butterflies of North America. Stanford University Press, Stanford, CA. ISBN 0-8047-2013-4
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Bob Steward, Priscilla Brodkin and Hank Brodkin (2001). Butterflies of Arizona. West Coast Lady Press, Arcata, CA. ISBN 0-9663072-1-6
- ↑ David L. Wagner (2005). Caterpillars of Eastern North America. Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ. ISBN 0-691-12144-3
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