Monarchs and Queens

The Monarch and Queen butterflies are very similar. Both belong to the genus Danaus in the family Danaidae. Members of the family Danaidae are "milkweed butterflies," so named because the caterpillars feed on various milkweed plants. There are 300 species of Danaidae worldwide, but only four are found in North America - the Monarch (Danaus plexippus), the Queen (Danaus gilippus), the Tropical Milkweed Butterfly (Lycorea cleobaea) and the Tropic Queen (Danaus eresimus),. Most of the milkweed butterflies are found in tropical Asia.

Monarchs are found throughout the United States. The Queen ranges from California east to western Missouri, all areas southward, then stretches down into Louisiana, across the southern regions of Mississippi and Alabama, throughout Florida, then up through most of Georgia and South Carolina, eastern North Carolina, and barely reaches into Virginia. The Tropic Queen and the Tropical Milkweed Butterfly are limited to South Texas and South Florida, their range extending mostly into South America.

By feeding on milkweed plants, which are toxic, Monarch and Queen caterpillars themselves become toxic and consequently distasteful to birds and other predators. The bright coloration of the adult butterfly serves as a warning that the species is best left alone. The Viceroy butterfly (Basilarchia archippus) of the family Nymphalidae, mimics the coloration and pattern of the Monarch in an attempt to "jump on the bandwagon" and find protection from predators. (A Viceroy can be distinguished from a Monarch as it has a horizontal black line near the lower edge of the upperside and underside of the hind wing. In addition, the underside of the hind wing of a Monarch is lighter than the underside of the fore wing, whereas in the Viceroy, they are the same color, and in general the black vein markings are thicker.)

Majestic Migration

In the Fall, Monarchs undertake an epic migration. Unable to withstand freezing temperatures, they seek warmer climes in which to spend the winter months.

Monarchs from eastern and central North America migrate south. Some overwinter on the Gulf Coast, but most continue on to roosting colonies in the mountains of Michoacan, Mexico, where they accumulate by the millions. Monarchs on the West Coast migrate to southern California and to Arizona. Surviving on stored body fats, the average six-week life span of a Monarch can be extended to as much as six months for the migrating butterflies.

The migration of the Monarch butterfly is nature’s grand plan of ensuring the species’ survival, yet paradoxically, the migration presents the Monarch with its greatest threat. Congregating en masse and dependent upon specific areas in Mexico, the butterfly is threatened on two fronts: by man as he encroaches upon the roosting sites, and by inclement weather. Susceptible to the cold, unexpected freezing temperatures can wipe out the fragile butterflies by the millions.

Monarchs begin the return migration in March, and the butterflies which arrive in North America are the progeny of those which made the journey south.

How to distinguish between a Monarch and a Queen

The Adult Butterfly:

The Monarch has black vein markings on both the upperside and underside of the forewings and hindwings. The Queen has black vein markings only on the underside of the hindwings.
On the Monarch, the underside of the hindwing is a lighter color than the underside of the forewing. On the Queen, the undersides of both wings are the same color.
The Monarch is orange in color while the Queen is a deeper, russet brown.
The Monarch has a distinctive flight pattern; wing beats followed by a swooping glide

The Caterpillar:

The Monarch caterpillar has a smooth appearance, while the Queen caterpillar has a broken pattern effect.

Left: Monarch caterpillars

The markings on a Monarch caterpillar are comprised of bands. The markings on a Queen caterpillar include both bands and spots.

Right: Queen caterpillars

The quickest, most sure-fire way to tell them apart: the Monarch caterpillar has two sets of filaments, one at the head and one at the rear. The Queen caterpillar has three sets of filaments, two at the head end and one at the rear.

The Chrysalis:

Chrysalis of the Queen (Danaus gilippus)

The chrysalis of the Monarch and the chrysalis of the Queen are extremely similar. Only when the chrysalis becomes translucent is it easy to determine which butterfly is inside.

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