Milkweed Butterflies

Queen Butterfly, Danaus gilippus

While Monarch butterflies are the most well-known and recognized of the milkweed butterflies, there are many others including queen butterflies. As with others found within the tribe Danaini, the larvae feed on a number of milkweed species, obtaining the toxic cardiac glycosides that are retained into adulthood. The colorful caterpillars and distinctive pattern on the wings of adults are warnings to predators of their poison. A mass migration of Monarchs occurs from August until October with a distinctive eastern and western population. The eastern population overwinters in central Mexico whereas the western population spends their winters along the California coast. Queen butterflies migrate as well, but to a lesser extent as they mainly stay in warm climates year round.

Want to help monarch populations and preserve the migration? Be sure to plant milkweed, but be positive it is the milkweed they need. While adults will often feed on the nectar of any milkweed, the larvae feed exclusively on milkweed that contains the glycosides and not all milkweed is suitable for larvae. In short, avoid "butterfly weed" and other non-milky milkweeds if you want caterpillars.