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Project Noah Nature School
Limenitis archippus, (Cramer, 1776)
It is a medium sized butterfly in the family (Nymphalidae). This species mimics a toxic group of butterflies known as the (Danainae), which are also in the family Nymphalidae. It especially mimics the migratory Monarch butterfly and Queen which are more common species than the Viceroy. The butterfly has bright chestnut orange hue with black veins and border of wings decorated in white spots.
In this area it likes wooded areas which are near streams or creeks. These areas near creeks contain Willow, (Salix), and Cottonwoods, (Populus). This one was attracted to Pineapple bait which can lure in many Nymphalid butterflies.
This species was named the state butterfly of Kentucky in 1990. The range is through most of the contiguous United States as well as parts of Canada and Mexico. The caterpillars mimic bird poop, which also acts as an defense against birds. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viceroy_(b...
Spotted on Oct 19, 2020
Submitted on Dec 31, 2020
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7 Comments
You're Welcome! I am new to project Noah. You should check out my page
Thank you, @harpmae.
So pretty
It sure was, Thank you, Neil Ross.
That's a pretty one. Lovely spotting, Ornithoptera80.
Thank you, i_munasinghe.
Extremely beautiful, I think its the first time I encountered a species showing mimicry being prettier than the actual ones...