Wisconsin Native Caterpillars
Queen Caterpillar
Genus-Species: Danaus gilippus
Description: Black with creamy white rings and
yellow spots--warning colors that signal predators that this caterpillar is distasteful. There
are b3 pairs of long, black filaments. (Monarch caterpillars only have 2 pairs).
Chrysalis: Green with distinct rows of golden
spots and a distinct abdominal suture line. Somewhat blunt and barrel-shaped.
Host Plants: Red Milkweed, Butterfly Weed.
Habitat: Open, sunny areas including fields, deserts,
roadsides, pastures, dunes, washes, and waterways.
Comments: Queen isomewhat similar to famous
Monarch, Danaus plexippus, belonging not only to the same butterfly family but also to the same
genus. It's a little smaller than the Monarch. Caterpillars of the two species also are very similar.
As with Monarchs, Queen caterpillars feed on various kinds of milkweeds.
Find instructions on how to design a butterfly-friendly habitat including a catalog of favorite flowers
guaranteed to attract butterflies.
Take this quick quiz and see how much you know about caterpillars. This quiz is intended for fun, in
a random-facts-can-be-cool kind of way.
How does this magic happen? Learn about metamorphosis - the process of transformation from an
immature form to an adult bitterfly.