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Viceroy


Viceroy
Photo Information
Copyright: Bob Williams (bikefifty) Silver Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 24 W: 0 N: 158] (596)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-07-23
Categories: Insects
Camera: Canon Rebel XTi, Canon EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 II
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Photos on TrekNature [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2009-02-07 5:00
Viewed: 3292
Points: 8
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
This is another one of my favorite butterflies. Some of you might think I have miss named it and believe it is a Monarch, but it is not. Note the black line on the inside of the wing. That is the easy way to tell it is not a Monarch which doesn't have such a line. This guy is sitting on top a queen Ann's Lace flower and was very intent on what it was doing and could have cared less about being photographed.

From Wikipedia:

The Viceroy Butterfly (Limenitis archippus) is a North American butterfly with a range from the Northwest Territories along the eastern edges of the Cascade Range and Sierra Nevada mountains, southwards into central Mexico.

Its wings feature an orange and black pattern, and over most of its range it is a Müllerian mimic with the Monarch Butterfly (Danaus plexippus). In Florida, Georgia, and the Southwest, Viceroys share the pattern of the Queen Butterfly (Danaus gilippus) and in Mexico they share the pattern of the Soldier Butterfly (Danaus eresimus). In all three areas, the Viceroy populations mimic the coloration of the local Danaus species. It was originally believed that the Viceroy was a Batesian mimic of the three other species, in that it was presumably edible or only mildly unpalatable to predators, but this has since proven not to be true.

The caterpillar feeds on trees in the willow family Salicaceae, including willows (Salix), and poplars and cottonwoods (Populus). The caterpillars sequester the salicylic acid in their bodies, which makes them bitter, and upsets predators' stomachs. As further protection, the caterpillars, as well as their chrysalis stage, resemble bird droppings. Adults are strictly diurnal, they fly preferentially in the late morning and early afternoon.[2]

The Viceroy is the state butterfly of Kentucky.It was voted state butterfly in 1990
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To pekkavalo1: Not a Monarchbikefifty 1 02-07 14:31
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • zetu Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 967 W: 26 N: 3888] (16941)
  • [2009-02-07 5:02]

Hi Bob
Nice capture with fine details and wonderful colors.
Regards.
Razvan

  • Great 
  • batu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1079 W: 293 N: 4497] (16383)
  • [2009-02-07 5:10]

Hello Bob,
you show a fine picture of archippus. Colours are very brilliant and nicely reproduced.
Focus and sharpness are excellent.
Best wishes, Peter

Hi Bob,
Excellent capture of this beautiful Monarch butterfly, great POV, and composition, sharp fine details and beautiful bright colours.
TFS
Pekka

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5038 W: 260 N: 15594] (50626)
  • [2009-02-07 23:59]

Hello Bob,
A super-sharp closed-wing capture of the Viceroy, this Monarch mimic. In fact I have never seen such a fine portrait of it in all my long life. The lighting, composition, OOF natural BG all first class and contribute to a very fine portrait of the species.
Well done and thanks!
Ivan

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