The viceroy is an interesting creature that has a larval caterpillar form and an adult butterfly form. It is most commonly referred to as the viceroy butterfly, as that is the stage most recognizable to humans, but in fact the viceroy spends eight to ten of its twelve-month life as a caterpillar (About Animals). The caterpillar is green and brown, with white spots, and antennae on its head. The butterfly has a fuzzy black body and bright orange wings with black horizontal stripes. The butterfly's features also include a tube-like mouth part, antennae, and six legs: four functional in the back and two non-functional in the front (University of Kentucky).
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The viceroy can be found throughout most of the continental United States, southern Canada, and Northern Mexico, where it lives in areas close to water (Nature Works). In fact, the genus name Limenitis comes from the Latin word for marshes, where Viceroys can often be found. In the marshes, the caterpillar larvae eat willows, poplars, and cottonwood leaves, while the butterflies eat decaying fruit, fungi, sap, feces, and nectar from flowers (University of Kentucky). Great care is taken by the female butterfly to lay eggs on a leaf that is uninfected by other insects and suitable for the developing larva to eat (About Animals).
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Caterpillars spend most of their lives eating and preparing for the next stage, whether that be hibernation, pupal, or another larval caterpillar form. The adult female spends her time feeding and looking for a good place to lay eggs. The adult male is territorial; he can often be seen flying up and down to protect his area from another male butterfly. While mating, the male and female utilize a tail to tail method. They can fly while in this position, and since the female is slightly larger than the male it can often involve her pulling him around an area. Viceroys have sensory organs to help them look for food and detect mates, including eyes capable of detecting UV light and seeing in multiple directions at once. In addition, its feet and antennae have specialized organs that can detect whether or not a flower has nectar on it (About Animals). They can often be seen using these organs to sense their environment.
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Due to its mimetic abilities, the viceroy's main role in the ecosystem is to contribute to the protection of black and orange butterflies. It also acts as a pollinator, helping certain species of plants reproduce (Herridge). Although not threatened often by predators, the viceroy is facing issues with habitat destruction by humans. It is important to plant willows, poplars, and cottonwood trees around bodies of water, and to avoid using harsh pesticides on these plants, to help the viceroy thrive (University of Kentucky). If you live near a body of water in the United States, be sure to look out for the viceroy on your next nature walk and appreciate its unique beauty.
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