Insect · GBIF taxon 5714299
Queen
Danaus gilippusAlso known as Queen Butterfly, American Queen
Queen butterflies patrol sunlit open spaces in search of milkweed host plants, where females deposit individual eggs on young foliage. Caterpillars sequester cardiac glycosides from their diet, rendering both larvae and adults unpalatable to most avian predators. Males utilize specialized abdominal scent brushes called hair-pencils to shower prospective mates with courtship pheromones.
PollinatorDiurnalToxic
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Milkweed foliage
- Flower nectar
- Plant juices
Predators
- Spiders
- Assassin bugs
- Praying mantises
ThreatsHabitat loss, pesticide exposure, loss of host plants
HabitatsMeadows, fields, marshes, deserts, forest edges
Life span2 to 6 weeks (adult stage)
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderLepidoptera
- FamilyNymphalidae
- GenusDanaus
- SpeciesDanaus gilippus
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskHigh
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is high
- Contains cardenolides sequestered from milkweed plants; avoid ingestion of larvae or adults.
- Why it is dangerous
- Contains toxic cardiac glycosides sequestered during the larval stage, which cause vomiting and heart arrhythmias if eaten.
- How to recognize a risky encounter
- Look for rich mahogany-orange wings with black borders and white spots scattered across the forewing tips.
- What to do
- Observe carefully from a distance and avoid handling caterpillars or butterflies directly.
Responsible observation
- Host Gardens: Plant native milkweeds to support egg-laying females and hungry caterpillars.
- Adult Feeding: Provide nectar-rich flowers like mistflower and lantana to attract foraging adults.
Müllerian Mimic (c) Benny Mazur, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Host Plant (c) Michael J. Papay, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Michael J. Papay · cc-by
Close Relative Sid Mosdell from New Zealand / CC BY 2.0 · cc-by
Close Relative (c) Nicolas Olejnik, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Nicolas Olejnik · cc-by
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