| Fairly common in North Carolina, found most often in wet habitats where willows (their host plants) grow. A fresh individual. Durham Co., NC 6/24/07. |
| This one is a bit worn. Durham Co., NC 9/9/06. |
| Viceroy mimics the poisonous Monarch (Danaus plexippus). This is an example of Batesian mimicry, where a palatable species evolves to look like a poisonous one. Durham Co., NC 9/16/2001. |
| When perched, Viceroy can be told from Monarch by the black line across the hindwings. They can be told apart in flight, too -- the Viceroy is smaller, flies with flat wings (Monarch usually flies with its wings in a V-shape), and flies more erratically. Durham Co., NC 9/19/03. |
| Viceroy's sibling species, the Red-spotted Purple (Limenitis arthemis astyanax), is another example of Batesian mimicry but looks quite different -- it evolved to mimic the dark swallowtails, some of which are unpalatable. Same individual. Durham Co., NC 9/19/03. |
Revised 4/6/08 cwcook@duke.edu