Deciphering Butterflies: Monarch & Mimics
These Viceroy resembles the Monarch and Queen in an effort to avoid predation as the latter two are distasteful to predators due to the ingestion of cardiac glycosides as larvae (Müllerian mimicry).
General Appearance – Large (3 3/8 – 4 7/8 inches) orange and black butterfly.
Range – Statewide
Status – Common, found season long in multiple habitats.
Dorsal – Predominately orange, veins and border black, no black band traversing the middle of the hindwing.
Ventral – Similar to dorsal.
Monarch species page
General Appearance – Medium sized 2 1/2 – 3 3/8 inches orange and black butterfly, usually slightly smaller than Monarchs and Queens.
Range – Statewide.
Status – Occasional in riparian habitats from June to September.
Dorsal – Predominately orange, veins and border black, with a black band traversing the middle of the hindwing.
Ventral – Similar to dorsal
General Appearance -Large to medium sized (2 5/8 – 3 7/8 inches) orange and black butterfly.
Range – Most records are from the southern half of the state.
Status – Rare stray that might occur in a variety of habitats.
Dorsal – Orange basally, veins not conspicuously blackened with a row of white spots across the forewing.
Ventral – Similar to dorsal but darker, veins may be more blackened.
Queen species page
