General: Queen Butterflies (Danaus gilippus) are medium-sized butterflies recognized by their dark brown-orange wings with black borders and white spots. The wing veins on the upper surface of the forewing are orange (not black). On the under-surface, the veins are black, bordered by white. The body is black with white spots anteriorly and orange distally.

Taxonomy: Family: Brush-footed Butterflies (Nymphalidae); Subfamily: Milkweed Butterflies (Danainae).

Comments: Similar to Monarch Butterflies and other milkweed butterflies, the larva of Queens feed on milkweeds and consume chemicals that make them unpalatable to predators such as flycatchers and other birds.

On the underside of the hindwing, note that the black veins have a white border. On the dorsal surface, the veins are unmarked, a characteristic useful for separating Queen Butterflies from the similar Soldier Butterflies (Danaus eresimus).