Danaus gilippus

Common Name
Queen

A subtropical relative of the Monarch, the Queen breeds on Milkweeds in the desert Southwest including southeastern California, and very rarely strays northward. On August 23, 2008 a male in excellent condition was observed as it nectared on Rabbitbrush, Chrysothamnus nauseosus, at Donner. My previous northernmost record was at Topaz Lake, Mono Co., 50 miles SSE of Donner. It would not be terribly surprising for it to turn up again.