Queen
Danaus gilippus
Last reviewed: May 2026
Queen is known for its dark brown wings with black borders.
Host plants
Queen caterpillars can only develop on their larval host plants. Plant one of these natives and you can host the full life cycle in your own yard (host plant associations per the Xerces Society (opens in new tab)).
- Texas Milkweed (Asclepias texana)
- Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa)
- Asclepias linearis — see Antelope Horn Milkweed (same genus)
- Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata)
- Horsetail Milkweed (Asclepias verticillata)
- Green Antelopehorns (Asclepias viridis)
- Climbing Milkweed (Cynanchum laeve)
Want Queen in your yard? Open Texas Milkweed in Pollinator Patch and plan an HOA-friendly garden around it for your region.
Family
Nymphalidae
Wingspan
70–90 mm
Active
March through October
Range
TX, AZ, NM, NV and 11 more states
How to identify it
Distinguished from Monarchs by darker, less vibrant wing colors and slightly smaller size.
Good to know
- Closely related to the Monarch butterfly but with darker wing coloration
- Mimics the Monarch as a defense against predators
- Named 'Queen' due to its regal appearance
Common questions
- What do Queen caterpillars eat?
- Queen caterpillars feed on Asclepias texana, Asclepias tuberosa, Asclepias linearis, Asclepias incarnata, Asclepias verticillata, Asclepias viridis, and Cynanchum laeve. These are the larval host plants the caterpillars must have to develop, per the Xerces Society and host plant records compiled from GBIF and iNaturalist.
- Where do Queen live?
- Queen is found across TX, AZ, NM, NV and 11 more states.
- When are Queen active?
- Adult Queen are typically on the wing from March through October.
Range and life-history data compiled from iNaturalist, GBIF, and the Xerces Society. Photo licensed cc-by-nc.