Can You Identify a Monarch Butterfly?

Were you fooled?
This is not a monarch butterfly! This butterfly is a close relative of the monarch. It looks like a monarch and lays its eggs on milkweed like monarchs do, too. The butterfly above is called a queen. You can tell that queens and monarchs are related by their scientific names, too. The monarch butterfly is named Danaus plexippus and the queen butterfly is named Danaus gilippus. Both are in the same genus, Danaus. Queens are found in the southern United States. (See map and more information here.)

Look Closely for Clues
Observers must look carefully in regions where monarchs and queens overlap. Even experts can have trouble distinguishing monarchs and queens when the butterflies are flying by. Look carefully...