If you’ve spent time near desert milkweed plants (Asclepias erosa), then you’ve probably spotted queen butterflies (Danaus gilippus) nearby. These butterflies resemble monarchs (Danaus plexippus) with their colors and size, however queen butterflies typically have white spots on their hindwings that are absent on monarchs and feature a darker orange color. Additionally, queen butterflies do not have nearly as long of a migration that monarchs have and travel only regionally. Watch for them on the hunt for flowers as adults feed on nectar.

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