Queen (Danaus gilippus) is in the Brush-footed Butterflies family (Nymphalidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 56,676 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in October.
Seasonal pattern in the national data: seasonal. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.
When to photograph Queen: observations by month (U.S.)
About Queen
The queen butterfly (Danaus gilippus) is a North and South American butterfly in the family Nymphalidae with a wingspan of 70–88 mm (2.8–3.5 in). It is orange or brown with black wing borders and small white forewing spots on its dorsal wing surface, and reddish ventral wing surface fairly similar to the dorsal surface. The ventral hindwings have black veins and small white spots in a black border. The male has a black androconial scent patch on its...From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Queen by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 36,793 | October | Jul–Nov |
| Arizona | 8,605 | September | May–Dec |
| Florida | 5,592 | September | Aug–Jul |
| California | 3,051 | October | Mar–Dec |
| New Mexico | 868 | August | May–Oct |
| Nevada | 392 | June | May–Oct |
| Colorado | 371 | September | Jul–Oct |
| Oklahoma | 279 | August | Jul–Oct |
| Georgia | 194 | September | May–Dec |
| Louisiana | 149 | August | Jun–Nov |
| Mississippi | 99 | August | Jul–Aug |
| North Carolina | 85 | September | Aug–Oct |
| South Carolina | 52 | September | Jul–Sep |
| Kansas | 47 | September | May–Oct |
| Utah | 31 | May | May–Jul |
| Alabama | 22 | July | Jul–Jul |
| Arkansas | 13 | September | Sep–Oct |
| Nebraska | 10 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Maryland | 6 | August | Aug–Aug |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related butterflies (Brush-footed Butterflies)
Monarch
Gulf Fritillary
Common Buckeye
Red Admiral
Pearl Crescent
Painted Lady
American Lady
Variegated Fritillary
Photography tips
- Butterflies are sluggish on cool mornings — the best time for close approaches.
- Keep the sensor parallel to the wings for edge-to-edge sharpness.
- Nectar plants in bloom are reliable places to wait.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Queen?
Nationally, October has the most observations, with the main season from June to November.
Where is Queen most often seen?
The most observations come from Texas, Arizona, Florida.