Viceroy
Male - August 2016
The Viceroy (imenitis archippus) is an awesome orange and black butterfly very similar to a Monarch!! In addition to being 2.8 inches (1 full inch smaller than Monarchs in wingspan), they also have a faster flight style and don’t glide much. I’ve also noticed that the wing veins are closer together, and there is a horizontal band across the dorsal hindwings which Monarchs do not have.
Male - August 2016
Note also that on the underside of Viceroy’s wings they have lines of white crescents along the black wing margins where Monarchs have lines of white spots.
Male - August 2016
Like Monarchs, this species is distasteful and even poisonous to most predators. However, the bold orange wings must be like a beacon to birds because I’ve seen many viceroys with damaged wings from an attempt to catch them.
September 2015
This butterfly flies from May through October, but I most often see them in late August and September. They patrol along meadow edges, sometimes perching on grass or dirt and will bask for stretches and then move to flowers.
Male - September 2012
Viceroys will nectar-feed on a variety of wildflowers including species of goldenrod, boneset, or asters. This beautiful individual spent a long stretch feeding on the puffy Late Boneset blooms!!
Female - September 2014
This female was so interested in the goldenrod blooms that she barely paid me any interest as I was taking photographs. It’s interesting how different individual butterflies from the same species will behave - I’ve had many Viceroys that won’t let me anywhere near them, while others allow for close-range smart-phone videos!!
Male - September 2016
Like many other species, Viceroys will perch on leaves, branches or grasses to get an overview of their territory and will defend it against intruders.
Male - September 2016
