Monarch
Danaus plexippus
Colors: Orange, black, white
When You’ll See It: March–June, September–November
Host Plant: Milkweed
Look-Alikes: Queen butterfly
Life Cycle Timeline:
Egg: 3–5 days
Caterpillar: 10–14 days
Chrysalis: 10–14 days
Adult: 2–6 weeks (up to 8 months for migrating generation)
Photo courtesy of The Caterpillar Lab
Queen
Danaus gilippus
Colors: Brown, black, white
When You’ll See It: April–October
Host Plant: Milkweed
Look-Alikes: Monarch butterfly
Life Cycle Timeline:
Egg: 3–5 days
Caterpillar: 10–12 days
Chrysalis: 7–10 days
Adult: 2–4 weeks
Photo courtesy of The Caterpillar Lab
Gulf Fritillary
Agraulis vanillae
Colors: Orange, black, silver
When You’ll See It: April–November
Host Plant: Passionvine
Look-Alikes: Monarch (in flight)
Life Cycle Timeline:
Egg: 3–6 days
Caterpillar: 11–18 days
Chrysalis: 7–10 days
Adult: 3–4 weeks
Photo courtesy of The Caterpillar Lab
Pipevine Swallowtail
Battus philenor
Colors: Blue, black, orange
When You’ll See It: March–October
Host Plant: Woolly pipevine
Look-Alikes: Mimicked by other butterflies for protection
Life Cycle Timeline:
Egg: 4–10 days
Caterpillar: 10–14 days
Chrysalis: 10–20 days
Adult: 6–14 days
Photo courtesy of The Caterpillar Lab
Eastern Black Swallowtail
Papilio polyxenes
Colors: Black, yellow, blue
When You’ll See It: March–October
Host Plants: Dill, fennel, parsley
Look-Alikes: Spicebush Swallowtail
Life Cycle Timeline:
Egg: 4–9 days
Caterpillar: 10–20 days
Chrysalis: 9–18 days
Adult: 2–4 weeks
Photo courtesy of The Caterpillar Lab
Spicebush Swallowtail
Papilio troilus
Colors: Black, green, blue
When You’ll See It: March–October
Host Plants: Spicebush, sassafras
Look-Alikes: Eastern Black Swallowtail
Life Cycle Timeline:
Egg: 4–10 days
Caterpillar: 10–16 days
Chrysalis: 10–20 days
Adult: 10–14 days
Photo courtesy of The Caterpillar Lab
Giant Swallowtail
Papilio cresphontes
Colors: Yellow, black
When You’ll See It: April–October
Host Plant: Citrus trees
Look-Alikes: None — largest butterfly in Texas
Life Cycle Timeline:
Egg: 3–5 days
Caterpillar: 10–14 days
Chrysalis: 10–14 days
Adult: 6–12 days
Photo courtesy of The Caterpillar Lab
Cloudless Sulphur
Phoebis sennae
Colors: Bright yellow
When You’ll See It: April–October
Host Plant: Senna
Look-Alikes: Sleepy Orange
Life Cycle Timeline:
Egg: 3–5 days
Caterpillar: 10–14 days
Chrysalis: 10–15 days
Adult: 6–10 days
Photo courtesy of The Caterpillar Lab