Queen

A close relative of the monarch, the queen is a rich chestnut-brown butterfly bordered in black and flecked with white, warmer and darker than its famous cousin. It rules the warm, open country of the southern United States.

Queens share the monarch's milkweed defense: their caterpillars feed on milkweed and store its toxins, and the adults advertise their unpalatability with bold color. In the South the two often fly together.

To welcome queens, plant native milkweed for the caterpillars and nectar-rich flowers for the adults, just as you would for monarchs. The plants below carry documented queen records.