Viceroy butterfly

Viceroy butterfly

Taxobox
name = Viceroy Butterfly



image_width = 250px
image_caption = A typical Viceroy, mimic of the Monarch
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Arthropoda
classis = Insecta
ordo = Lepidoptera
unranked_familia = Rhopalocera
superfamilia = Papilionoidea
familia = Nymphalidae
subfamilia = Limenitidinae
genus = "Limenitis"
species = "L. archippus"
binomial = "Limenitis archippus"
binomial_authority = Cramer, 1775
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 [cite journal | last = Ritland | first = David B. | coauthors = Lincoln P. Brower | title = The viceroy butterfly is not a batesian mimic | journal = Nature | volume = 350 | pages = 497–498 | date = 11 April 1991 | url = http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v350/n6318/abs/350497a0.html | doi = 10.1038/350497a0 | accessdate = 2008-03-29 | format = abstract] 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. [cite journal | last = Fullard | first = James H. | coauthors = Nadia Napoleone | title = Diel flight periodicity and the evolution of auditory defences in the Macrolepidoptera | journal = Animal Behaviour | volume = 62 | issue = 2 | date = August 2001 | pages = 349–368 | doi = 10.1006/anbe.2001.1753 | url = http://www.erin.utoronto.ca/~w3full/reprints/FullNapolDielAB.pdf]

The Viceroy is the state butterfly of Kentucky.

References

* [http://www.rlephoto.com/butterflies/viceroy01.html Vicroy, Butterflies of North Carolina]
* [http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=1788 Description of Viceroy on Butterflies and Moths website]
* [http://www.killerplants.com/renfields-garden/20010725.asp A Bitter Plant Becomes a Bitter Butterfly]


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужно сделать НИР?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Viceroy (disambiguation) — Viceroy may refer to: * Viceroy, gubernatorial title for the monarch appointed governor of a country or province * Viceroy Butterfly, a North American butterfly * Viceroy (cigarette), a cigarettes brand * Viceroy, A Texas Car club. * Viceroy, a… …   Wikipedia

  • viceroy — [vīs′roi΄] n. [MFr < vice (see VICE ) + roy, king < L rex: see REGAL] 1. a person ruling a country, province, or colony as the deputy of a sovereign ☆ 2. an American butterfly (Limenitis archippus) of striking orange and black coloring,… …   English World dictionary

  • Viceroy — Vice roy, n. [F. vice roi; pref. vice in the place of (L. vice) + roi a king, L. rex. See {Vice}, prep. and Royal.] 1. The governor of a country or province who rules in the name of the sovereign with regal authority, as the king s substitute; as …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • viceroy — (n.) person ruling as representative of a sovereign, 1520s, from M.Fr. vice roy, from O.Fr. vice deputy (see VICE (Cf. vice )) + roi king, from L. regem (nom. rex); see REX (Cf. rex). The species of American butterfly so called from 1881 …   Etymology dictionary

  • viceroy — viceroyship, n. /vuys roy/, n. 1. a person appointed to rule a country or province as the deputy of the sovereign: the viceroy of India. 2. a brightly marked American butterfly, Limenitis archippus, closely mimicking the monarch butterfly in… …   Universalium

  • viceroy — noun /ˈvaɪs.rɔɪ/ a) One who governs a country, province, or colony as the representative of a monarch. b) An orange and black North American butterfly (Limenitis archippus), so na …   Wiktionary

  • viceroy — vice•roy [[t]ˈvaɪs rɔɪ[/t]] n. 1) gov a person appointed to rule a country or province as the deputy of the sovereign 2) ent a brightly marked American butterfly, Basilarchia archippus, closely mimicking the monarch butterfly in coloration •… …   From formal English to slang

  • viceroy — noun Etymology: Middle French vice roi, from vice + roi king, from Old French rei, roi, from Latin reg , rex Date: 1524 1. the governor of a country or province who rules as the representative of a king or sovereign 2. a showy North American… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • butterfly — (Roget s IV) n. Common American butterflies include: Falcate Orange tip, Tiger Swallowtail, Mourning Cloak, Common Sulfur, American Copper, Cabbage, Colorado Parnassian, Great Spangled Fritillary, Tortoiseshell, Viceroy, Wood Nymph, Painted Lady …   English dictionary for students

  • viceroy — vice·roy || vaɪsrɔɪ n. province governor who represents the king; orange and black butterfly that is native to North America and somewhat resembles the monarch …   English contemporary dictionary

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”