Viceroy

Description:

Its wings feature an orange and black pattern, and over most of its range it is a Müllerian mimic with the Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus). The viceroy's wingspan is between 53 and 81 mm. It can be distinguished from the Monarch by its smaller size and the postmedian black line that runs across the veins on the hindwing. In Florida, Georgia, and the Southwest, Viceroys share the pattern of the Queen (Danaus gilippus) and in Mexico they share the pattern of the Soldier (Danaus eresimus). In all three areas, the local Danaus population mimic the coloration of the Viceroy species. It was originally believed that the Viceroy was a Batesian mimic of the three other species, and presumed edible or only mildly unpalatable to predators, but this has since proven not to be true. (information from Wikipedia)

Habitat:

Garden in a City park

Notes:

Larvae feed mainly on leaves of willow (Salix) and poplar and cottonwood (Populus); other hosts include apple (Malus) and cherry (Prunus) Adults feed on aphid honeydew, carrion, dung, decaying fruit and fungi, and also take nectar from flowers of herbaceous plants, especially composites. (information from BugGuide)