Florida Viceroy Butterfly (Limenitis archippus floridensis)

CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Florida Viceroy Butterfly (Limenitis archippus floridensis)

Florida subspecies has a darker color mimicing queen butterfly. Other states it is lighter to mimic monarch (http://bugguide.net/node/view/548)

Range: http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species/Limenitis-archippus?quicktabs_8=0#quicktabs-8

Larval host: Various willows (Salix spp.), possibly poplar and cottonwood (Populus); apple (Malus) and cherry (Prunus)

Adults feed on dung (ewwwwwwwwwwwwwww)

Learn: http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/wildflower/completebutterflydata.asp?id=39

Shown on Florida Native Plant: Bidens alba

Caterpillar: https://centralfloridacritteroftheday.wordpress.com/2013/09/10/viceroy-butterfly-caterpillar-limenitis-archippus/

My take: http://www.beautifulwildlifegarden.com/viceroy-butterfly-puts-up-a-smokescreen.html

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• butterfly
• insect
• pollinator