The Nymphalidae are the largest family of butterflies with about 6,000 species distributed throughout most of the world, belonging to the superfamily Papilionoidea. These are usually medium-sized to large butterflies. Most species have a reduced pair of forelegs and many hold their colourful wings flat when resting. They are also called brush-footed butterflies or four-footed butterflies, because they are known to stand on only four legs while the other two are curled up; in some species, these forelegs have a brush-like set of hairs, which gives this family its other common name. Many species are brightly coloured and include popular species such as the emperors, monarch butterfly, admirals, tortoiseshells, and fritillaries. However, the under wings are, in contrast, often dull and in some species look remarkably like dead leaves, or are much paler, producing a cryptic effect that helps the butterflies blend into their surroundings. As an adult, the queen has two cousins to which it bears a striking resemblance: the more common monarch (Danaus plexippus) and the soldier (Danaus eresimus). It is easily distinguishable from its cousin, the monarch, by its darker brown ground color.

The queen butterfly (Danaus gilippus) is a North and South American butterfly in the family Nymphalidae with a wingspan of 70 - 88 mm (2.8 - 3.5 in). It is orange or brown with black wing borders and small white forewing spots on its dorsal wing surface, and reddish ventral wing surface fairly similar to the dorsal surface. The ventral hindwings have black veins and small white spots in a black border. The male has a black androconial scent patch on its dorsal hindwings. It is found throughout the tropics and into the temperate regions of the Americas, Asia and Africa. It can be found in meadows, fields, marshes, deserts, and at the edges of forests. As an adult, the queen has two cousins to which it bears a striking resemblance: the more common monarch (Danaus plexippus) and the soldier (Danaus eresimus). It is easily distinguishable from its cousin, the monarch, by its darker brown ground color.

Females lay one egg at a time on larval host plants. The queen larvae feed on Apocynaceae (milkweeds and dogbanes).[5] It can survive on a number of hosts. Common plants include butterflyweed (Asclepias tuberosa). Larvae use these plants as a food source, whereas adult butterflies feed mainly on nectar from flowers. Unpalatability to avian predators is a feature of the butterfly; however, its level is highly variable. Unpalatability is correlated with the level of cardenolides obtained via the larval diet, but other compounds like alkaloids also play a part in promoting distastefulness.

Males patrol to search for females, who may mate up to 15 times a day. Male organs called hair-pencils play an important role in courtship, with males with lower hair-pencil levels being selected against. These hair-pencils may be involved in releasing pheromones during courtship that could attract female mates.

Santa Catalina Mountains.
Prison Camp
Location: On seep willow in wash 0.2 mile beyond campground.
9/6/17

Notes: 10/31/21 at Sabino Canyon on Turpentine Bush adjacent to main tram road 50 yards from Visitor Center.

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