What is the difference between a monarch and a viceroy butterfly?

The main visual difference between the Viceroy and Monarch butterfly is the black line drawn across the viceroy’s hind wings, which monarch butterflies do not have. The viceroy is also a bit smaller than the monarch. The viceroy caterpillar looks like a lumpy twig, with subdued colors of green and brown.

What makes a monarch butterfly unique?

Like a retractable garden hose, its tongue coils up under its lower lip when not in use. Once the Monarch butterfly is hatched, it only lives for approximately 2–6 weeks. The monarch butterfly’s bright colors serve as a warning to predators that they are poisonous, and they should attack at their own risk!

Is a painted lady butterfly the same as a Monarch butterfly?

The painted lady has no black veins, like those of the monarch, but rather brown spots. With a wingspan of about 6 cm, the painted lady is also smaller than the monarch, which can reach up to 10 cm wingspan. The flight of the painted lady is rapid and erratic, unlike the slow floating of the monarch.

Which is poisonous monarch or viceroy?

Recent research indicates that the Viceroy is as poisonous as the Monarch giving each butterfly twice the protection from predators. This cross protection is known as a Mullerian mimic.

What butterfly is similar to a monarch?

Viceroy butterfly
The Viceroy butterfly (Limenitis archippus) is nearly identical to the Monarch. It has orange-brown wings with dark black veins. A black line across the hindwing distinguishes it from the Monarch. The Queen butterfly (Danaus gilippus) is just slightly smaller than the Monarch.

What is a super monarch butterfly?

Adult monarchs are partway through their lifecycle, but their reproduction is on hold. These monarchs are different from their parents, grandparents and even great grandparents. Butterflies in this last generation are members of the generation that migrates south, often called the monarch super generation.

What butterfly resembles a monarch?

Viceroys
Viceroy butterflies look exactly like monarchs to the untrained observer. Viceroys “mimic” monarchs in appearance. This is a strategy to avoid predation. As you know, monarch caterpillars eat milkweed.

Is parsley a milkweed?

Monarch butterflies only lay their eggs on species of milkweed, members of the Asclepias family. Swallowtails’ host plants are in the Apiaceae family, which include parsley, Queen Anne’s lace, carrots, celery, fennel and dill as well as plants in the Rutaceae family, which include citrus plants.

Are monarch butterflies rare?

For several years, monarch butterflies have become a rare sight, even during July and along their former flight paths. It’s not just Windsor or Essex County, either. Scientific evidence from all over points to a disturbing trend: monarch butterflies are disappearing.

Is there a butterfly that looks like a monarch?

Viceroy butterflies look exactly like monarchs to the untrained observer. Viceroys “mimic” monarchs in appearance. This is a strategy to avoid predation. As you know, monarch caterpillars eat milkweed.