Male Queen

The Queen butterfly (Danaus gilippus) is a common butterfly in North Texas, and is the most frequently spotted in our Gregg’s Mist flower patch.

Photo description: Queen butterfly on a Gregg’s Mist Flower stalk
Photo description: Queen butterfly with wings open

In looking up the information on the Queen butterfly for this post, I found references for telling apart the males and females of the species. The males have dark patches on the hind wings, which are scent producing patches. So in my picture, it is a male Queen butterfly because the patches are evident.

Photo description: same butterfly zoomed in and a white arrow pointing to the one androconial scent patch