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Photo#230640
Florida Viceroy (Limenitis archippus floridensis) - Limenitis archippus

Florida Viceroy (Limenitis archippus floridensis) - Limenitis archippus
Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, Collier County, Florida, USA
October 2, 2008
Not sure if this is a Monarch, or Florida Viceroy (Limenitis archippus floridensis). The color seemed much to dark for a Monarch. I know I have one other ID'd Florida Viceroy but the patterns don't match exactly. It's a mimic so I'm not sure.

Gorgeous photo!
Gorgeous photo!

 
Thank you Amy
Thank you Amy.

looks like a Florida Viceroy
These are darker in color and are supposed to be mimics of Queens instead of Monarchs. Generally location will tell you which you have, but where the subspecies meet, you can expect intermediates to be found (I think that is further north than this?).

 
Thank you for the clarification
Thanks for your clarification. I'll move it accordingly.

I'm Goin' With Viceroy
Look at that post median line on hindwing.

 
Thanks
Thank you but just wanted to make sure you meant the "Florida Viceroy" of just a Viceroy. I'm sorry I'm not sure of the "post median line" I'm still a novice but trying hard to learn.

 
What David Said.
BugGuide does have some wing information but I don't think it has the one I'm referring to; any decent field guide should. For the hindwing (its a little different for the forewing) from where the wing is attached to the thorax outward the wing can be divided into bands for the purpose of describing butterflies: basal, postbasal, submedian, median, postmedian, submarginal, and marginal.

You can compare hindwings in buguide images of Viceroys, including Florida Viceroys, with those of Monarchs and see what I'm referring to.

 
Thank you
Thank you for your help.

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