Queen
Danaus gilipus
This butterfly was photographed using a Nikon CoolPix 990 on 13 Oct. 2002 at the Desert Botanical Garden, Phoenix Arizona. It is taking nectar from flowers of White-stemmed Milkweed, Asclepias albicans. It has a wingspan of roughly 110 mm.
Nymphalidae -- Brush-footed Butterfly Family
The Queen Butterfly is a smaller darker relative of the Monarch. It does not migrate. It is a permanent resident over much of Southern Arizona. The caterpillars feed on various species of milkweed, such as Climbing Milkweed (shown in lower figure). The adults are avid flower visitors and on rare occasion they may become prey to a spider waiting there.
The larva (caterpillar) of the Queen Butterfly has alternating bands of orange, black and red that are smudged together. Climbing milkweed vine is common in the Sonoran Desert and is frequent in urban areas on fences.
More Information:
- Butterflies and Moths of North America
- Bugguide.net -- Univ. of Iowa
- Google Images
- Google Scholar Literature Search
- Book Reference: Butterflies of Southestern Arizona by Richard Bailowitz & Jim Brock available at Sonoran Arthropod Studies.