Monarch or Viceroy

Monarchs

At a glance the Viceroy and Monarch butterflies are shockingly similar with their orange and black wing coloration.  This is not a coincidence, but a means of survival for these beautiful fluttering insects.  There is also a name for this phenomenon called Mullerian mimicry, which is a form of mimicry in which two or more animals develop similar appearances as a shared protective device. 

Viceroy

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.  Caterpillars of monarchs and viceroys are significantly different in appearance as well.  Monarch caterpillars are striped in vivid black and yellow, which warn off predators and act as camouflage.  The viceroy caterpillar looks like a lumpy twig, with subdued colors of green and brown.

Monarch Caterpillar

Viceroys feed on all plants in the willow family, but the females will deposit eggs on plums, apples and cherries.  Monarchs feed and reproduce solely on milkweed, which contain toxins, making the insects unpalatable to predators. The viceroy, found in North America, overwinter as caterpillars and rest inside rolled leaves.  Monarch butterflies, found in North & South America, Caribbean and parts of Europe, migrate vast distances, overwintering in warmer climates.  The flight styles of these colorful insects also vary, with monarchs taking a straighter or smoother path and the viceroy usually flying faster and more erratic. 

Viceroy Caterpillar

The painted lady, red admiral, queen and soldier butterflies are all lookalikes of these brightly colored enchanting insects!

Sources:

https://journeynorth.org/tm/monarch/Viceroy1.html

https://www.butterfliesathome.com/monarch-butterfly-look-alikes.htm

https://animals.mom.me/tell-difference-between-monarch-viceroy-butterfly-6678.html

Ranger Joe Hiatt, Dismal Swamp State Park (Image)