Identification
Dorsal, very similar to the
Queen, with slightly darker veins. Male has a black dot on each HW.
Ventral, black veins on both FW and HW,
Queen only has black veins on HW. Soldiers are the only one in the genus that has pale squarish spots forming a concentric postmedian band.
Range
Southern half of Florida, and south Texas.
Habitat
Found in many different open areas with their host plant, nectar sources, or pyrrolizidine alkaloids.
Season
North to Orland in the summer, all year in south Florida with 3+ broods, most common October-December.
Food
Milkweeds, White Vine (Sarcostema clausa), and Strangler Vine (Morreni odorata).
Remarks
Tropical species that began colonizing Florida in the 1970's. The Florida Soldiers come from an Antillean population, and the Texas Soldiers originated in Mexico.
In the summer, Soldiers sometimes stray north to NC.
