How can you tell whether the butterfly in your garden is a Queen Butterfly (Danaus gilippus) or a Soldier Butterfly (Danaus eresimus)? Here are a few good sites with better diagnostic illustrations and descriptions than I have provided here: butterflyfunfacts.com, www.greatstems.com. I was surprised to learn that most of the butterflies that come to my blue mistflower plants each fall are actually Soldier Butterflies.
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| Queen Butterfly (Danaus gilippus) or Soldier Butterfly (Danaus eresimus)? The lack of white spots in FW postmedian area points to this one being a Soldier. Most guide books don't put Soldier's beyond a few strays this far North...Global Warming maybe?, there are tons around my house in the fall. |
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| Queen Butterfly in front with a Solider Butterfly behind. |
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| This one is a male (see dark scent patches) and a Soldier (see white faint spots in hind wing). |
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| Danaus eresimus, Soldier Butterfly |
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| Ariocarpus fissuratus |
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| Danaus gilippus, Queen Butterfly |
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