At first glance this viceroy could be confused for the world-famous monarch, but it is only distantly related. If you look closely you will notice a dark line across each hindwing, where the monarch does not. The viceroy is also smaller than the monarch. The National Wildlife Federation has a created a handy Monarchs and Look-Alikes Identification Guide that shows the differences. Both the viceroy and monarch are distasteful to predators and are considered co-mimics, each species benefitting from the other’s appearance. Caterpillars feed on leaves of willows and other broad-leaved trees.
Photos by: Glenn Marangelo on 7/16/21 near Philipsburg, MT
