Queen Butterfly vs Polar Fritillary
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Queen Butterfly | Polar Fritillary |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Danaus gilippus | Boloria polaris |
| Order | Lepidoptera | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Nymphalidae | Nymphalidae |
| Size | 67-78 mm wingspan | 30-38 mm wingspan |
| Habitat | Deserts & Drylands | Tundra & Arctic |
| Diet | Herbivores | Nectar Feeders |
| Regions | Southern USA, Central and South America | Canadian Arctic, northern Alaska, Greenland, Svalbard, northern Scandinavia, Siberia |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Queen Butterfly
A close relative of the Monarch butterfly with similar orange coloring but darker. Found across the Americas. Like the Monarch, it sequesters toxic cardenolides from milkweed.
Did You Know?
A close cousin of the Monarch that is equally toxic but does not undertake the same famous migration.
Polar Fritillary
A small butterfly with warm orange upperwings marked with dark spots and zigzag lines. The underside has a distinctive pattern of white and reddish-brown patches. It is restricted to true Arctic tundra habitats.
Did You Know?
This is one of the most northerly butterflies in the world, found within a few hundred kilometers of the North Pole on Ellesmere Island.