Danaidae

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Danaidae is a former family in the Lepidoptera order. It has now been relegated to the subfamily Danainae, under the family Nymphalidae.

The Danaidae are referred to as "milkweed butterfly," so named because the caterpillars feed on various milkweed plants. When feeding on these plants, the caterpillars obtain certain chemicals which remain in their bodies. The chemicals cause them to be distasteful to predators, both as caterpillars and later as adults, and through experience, potential predators learn to avoid these species.

There are 300 species of Danaidae 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 Tropic Queen (Danaus eresimus). Most of the Danaidae are found in tropical Asia.