They can be found in back yards and along roadsides. Adults feed on the nectar of many flowers, especially thistles. Queen The catepillar of the Queen is striped in dark brown and white with yellow spots and three pairs of filaments. It feeds on poisonous milkweeds, and the poisons are retained by the adults. The adult Queen is red-brown with fine black veins and wide black margins on the wings.
White spots dot the long fore wing.
The undersides are more brown with heavier veins. They are found in open places, prairies, and river valleys. Adults often nectar at milkweeds. Red Admiral Red Admiral caterpillars come in a variety of colors. They may be mottled olive-green or brown with a white patch on the back and a light band on the side.