Milkweed Butterfly
Lambert M. Surhone, Mariam T. Tennoe, Susan F. Henssonow
High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles!
High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles!
Milkweed butterflies are a subfamily, Danainae, in the family Nymphalidae, or brush-footed butterflies.
They lay their eggs on various milkweeds on which their larvae (caterpillars) feed.
Historically, this group had been considered a separate family, Danaidae, and the tribes placed herein were sometimes considered distinct subfamilies in the Nymphalidae
There are some 300 species of Danainae worldwide, but only four are found in North America: the Monarch Butterfly (Danaus plexippus); the Queen (Danaus gilippus); the Tropical Milkweed Butterfly (Lycorea cleobaea); and the Soldier Butterfly (or "Tropic Queen"; Danaus eresimus).
Most of the Danaini are found in tropical Asia and Africa, while the Ithomiini are diverse in the Neotropics.
Tellervini are restricted to Australia and the Oriental region.
