Difference Between Viceroy and Monarch (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. Caterpillars of monarchs and viceroys are significantly different in appearance as well.

1. Which is poisonous monarch or viceroy?
2. Why do viceroys look like monarchs?
3. Does viceroy butterfly mimic monarch?
4. Do viceroy butterflies eat milkweed?
5. Are monarchs poisonous?
6. What is the lifespan of a monarch butterfly?
7. Are purple monarch butterflies real?
8. Is there another butterfly that looks like a monarch?
9. What was the theory of Viceroy butterflies?
10. Why did Richard lose interest in tagging butterflies?
11. Where are viceroy butterflies found?
12. Is a viceroy butterfly poisonous?

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.

Why do viceroys look like monarchs?

They decided that the reason for the similar appearance was that the viceroy had evolved colors that mimic, or copy, the monarch colors to confuse predators and thereby protected themselves. Monarch larvae eat milkweed plants that contain chemicals poisonous to birds and other predators.

Does viceroy butterfly mimic monarch?

Viceroys (Limenitis archippus) are Monarch mimics, even though they're not very closely related. ... By looking almost the same and both being toxic partners, the two species (in this case the Monarch and the Viceroy) both benefit from each other.

Do viceroy butterflies eat milkweed?

Viceroy butterflies (Limenitis archippus) are found in the family Nymphalidae, the Brushfoot butterflies. ... Viceroys are famous for being mimics of Monarch butterflies, of previous BOTW fame. Monarch caterpillars eat only milkweed foliage, and that makes them both bitter and toxic.

Are monarchs poisonous?

One fascinating fact about the Monarch butterfly is that it is poisonous. Not to humans, but to predators such as frogs, grasshoppers, lizards, mice and birds. ... The Monarch absorbs and stores poison in its body when it is a caterpillar and eats the poisonous milkweed plant.

What is the lifespan of a monarch butterfly?

Monarch butterflies typically live from 2 to 6 weeks except for the last generation of the year, which can live up to 8 to 9 months.

Are purple monarch butterflies real?

Where are purple emperor butterflies found? The purple emperor is found in and around woodland in much of central southern, south east and eastern England, and can be anticipated in parts of the West Country, the western Midlands and eastern Wales.

Is there another butterfly that looks like a monarch?

There's another butterfly out there that's disguised as a monarch. Viceroy butterflies look exactly like monarchs to the untrained observer. Viceroys "mimic" monarchs in appearance.

What was the theory of Viceroy butterflies?

The theory was that viceroys look like monarchs because monarchs don't taste good to birds. Viceroys, on the other hand, do taste good to birds. So the more they look like monarchs, the less likely they are to become a bird's dinner. Ebright's project was to see whether, in fact, birds would eat monarchs.

Why did Richard lose interest in tagging butterflies?

Why did Richard lose interest in tagging butterflies? Answer: Richard raised thousands of butterflies, tagged them and released them to study their migration. But soon, he lost interest because only two of his tagged butterflies were returned to him and they had travelled only seventy-five miles.

Where are viceroy butterflies found?

The viceroy (Limenitis archippus) is a North American butterfly that ranges through most of the contiguous United States as well as parts of Canada and Mexico.

Is a viceroy butterfly poisonous?

Ecologists have long preached that Viceroys have enjoyed a Batesian “Get-out-of-Jail-Free” card due to their resemblance to the toxic Monarch butterfly. Monarchs are poisonous because their caterpillar host plant, milkweed, contains harmful cardiac glycosides (Batesian mimicry—the harmless imitating the harmful).