Viceroy is a large, bright orange butterfly with black lines and white spots on the wings. Viceroy mimics the poisonous Monarch (Danaus plexippus). This is a classic example of Batesian mimicry, where a palatable species evolves to look like a poisonous one.

Jordan Lake, Chatham Co., NC 9/19/09.

Viceroy is 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.

Moderate wear, with a few scratches and a couple of chunks missing from the hindwing.

Durham Co., NC 8/16/09.

Viceroys further south are browner, resembling the Queen butterfly, which is more common than the Monarch here, but equally toxic.

Okeechobee, Okeechobee Co., FL 6/30/2010.

Okeechobee, Okeechobee Co., FL 6/30/2010.

This one is a bit more worn.

Durham Co., NC 9/9/06.

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 9/16/2001.

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.

Durham Co., NC 9/19/03.

Same individual. Durham Co., NC 9/19/03.