Viceroy Butterflies Compare And Contrast

Have you ever looked out the window and seen a but Monarch Butterflies versus Viceroy Butterflies terfly and thought it was a Monarch. The Viceroy butterfly is nearly identical to the Monarch. People have mistaken a Monarch for a Viceroy butterfly. The similar colors are what throw people off. These two butterflies differ in size, flight, diet, location and timing. These two butterflies have the same colors and shape.

Viceroy butterflies are 2 ½ to 3 3/8 inches, this size difference could be difficult to see in the field. The flight of a viceroy is fast and erratic. The viceroy hold their wings horizontally when gliding. The Viceroy is found in marshes, meadows and swamps. These butterflies do not migrate, during the winter they stay in a first or second instar larvae rolled in a host plant. The viceroys host plant is either willow or poplar. In the spring larvae need about 15 days to complete their life cycle and become a butterfly. The rate of viceroy development depends on spring
Monarch flight is like floating with a flap flap pattern. Monarchs glide at an angle. Monarchs feed on milkweed while adults feed on nectar. Milkweed is a poisonous toxic, milkweed is what monarchs taste so terrible to predators. Monarchs are also poisonous. The monarch will return to the milkweed to lay their eggs on the plant. The monarch migrates to Mexico or Southern California. Monarchs that live west of the Rocky Mountains will migrate to Southern California. Monarchs that live east of the Rockies will migrate to Mexico. The world is getting warmer so a suitable habitat for the monarch will move northward resulting is The monarch is dark orange with black and white wings. The monarch caterpillar is normally yellow, black and white, but something they can be a little different depending on the light. The monarch can be found in Central and North America, Southern Canada and from the Atlantic to Pacific