Viceroy Limenitis archippus (Cramer, 1776)    Synonyms: Hodges #4523.
Kingdom Animalia   >   Phylum Arthropoda   >   Class Insecta   >   Order Lepidoptera   >   Family Nymphalidae   >   Genus Limenitis   

Status:

The famous Monarch-mimic, the Viceroy, was long considered the classic example of Batesian mimicry. The apparently harmless Viceroy has evolved to closely resemble the Monarch, whose diet of milkweed makes it toxic to predators. More recent research has actually revealed that Viceroys are also distasteful, at least to some predators, so the mimicry might be more accurately consider Müllerian, where both model and mimic are harmful. This butterfly is common, and flies from May through September in Maryland (Butterflies of Maryland: A Biological Summary and Checklist by Lynn Davidson & Richard Smith).

Description:

The black line that bisects the hindwings is diagnostic for Viceroy and never present in Monarchs.

Relationships:

This species utilizes willows and poplars as larval hosts.

There are 458 records in the project database.

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Viceroy in Frederick Co., Maryland (9/14/2008). (c) Bill Hubick, all rights reserved. Photo by Bill Hubick. (MBP list)

A Viceroy in Dorchester Co., Maryland (8/31/2013). Photo by Jim Brighton. (MBP list)

A Viceroy in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (7/19/2014). Photo by Richard Orr. (MBP list)

A Viceroy in Baltimore Co., Maryland (8/25/2019). Photo by Emilio Concari. (MBP list)

A Viceroy in Harford Co., Maryland (8/22/2014). Photo by Tea Kesting-Handly. (MBP list)

A Viceroy in Montgomery Co., Maryland (5/20/2015). Photo by Mark Johnson. (MBP list)

A Viceroy without the black post-median line in the hindwing in Howard Co., Maryland (8/21/2019). Photo by Richard Orr. (MBP list)

Viceroy in Baltimore Co., Maryland (8/25/2022). (c) Frode Jacobsen, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Frode Jacobsen. (MBP list)

A Viceroy in Dorchester Co., Maryland (8/28/2018). Photo by Erica Weick. (MBP list)

A Viceroy in Howard Co., Maryland (9/7/2017). Photo by Kevin Heffernan. (MBP list)

Viceroy in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (8/22/2009). (c) Hans Holbrook, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Hans Holbrook. (MBP list)

A Viceroy caterpillar at Patuxent Research Refuge, Maryland (9/1/2012). Photo by Bonnie Ott. (MBP list)

A Viceroy caterpillar in Frederick Co., Maryland (8/10/2016). Photo by Bob Cammarata. (MBP list)

A Viceroy caterpillar on a willow leaf in Howard Co., Maryland (8/24/2013). Photo by Richard Orr. (MBP list)

A Viceroy caterpillar in Baltimore City, Maryland (6/30/2006). Photo by Thomas Wilson. (MBP list)

A Viceroy caterpillar in Baltimore Co., Maryland (8/22/2012). Photo by Bob Cammarata. (MBP list)

A Viceroy larva in Worcester Co., Maryland (5/13/2014). Photo by Scott Housten. (MBP list)

Viceroy in Frederick Co., Maryland (8/18/2019). (c) Giff Beaton, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Giff Beaton via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Viceroy in Harford Co., Maryland (6/26/2021). (c) jmcardle, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by jmcardle via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Viceroy in Baltimore Co., Maryland (8/31/2009). (c) Hans Holbrook, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Hans Holbrook. (MBP list)

Viceroy eggs on willow leaf in Garrett Co., Maryland (8/5/2012). (c) Ashley Rodeheaver, all rights reserved. Photo by Ashley Rodeheaver. (MBP list)

A pupa of a Viceroy in Washington Co., Maryland (5/21/2013). Photo by Richard Orr. (MBP list)

A Viceroy larva in Worcester Co., Maryland (5/13/2014). Photo by Scott Housten. (MBP list)

Viceroy in Harford Co., Maryland (7/30/2023). (c) johncanoles, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by johncanoles via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Viceroy in Harford Co., Maryland (8/16/2020). (c) Dan Haas, all rights reserved. Photo by Dan Haas. (MBP list)


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