Viceroy - Alabama Butterfly Atlas

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Viceroys are consummate mimics. Although they strongly resemble Monarchs, they are actually closely related to Red-Spotted Purples, also incredible mimics. The two species are drastically different in coloration, but their shapes are almost identical. The family ties are also evident in early developmental stages, where egg, caterpillar, and chrysalis are almost indistinguishable.

Much of the classic and well-known literature about Monarch/Viceroy mimicry suggested that palatable Viceroys mimic unpalatable Monarchs in order to gain some protection from predators. However, both butterfly species are at least somewhat distasteful, so each benefits from looking like the other. Viceroy caterpillars taste bad because their bodies hold on to the salicylic acid contained in their willow hosts, which makes them bitter.

Viceroys fly with a distinctive flap and glide pattern that helps to distinguish them from Monarchs. They are found throughout Alabama, wherever willows grow.

Distribution and Abundance

A dot on the county map indicates that there is at least one documented record of the species within that county. In some cases, a species may be common throughout the county, in others it may be found in only a specific habitat. The High Count information shows the highest numbers recorded for this species as well as when and where they occurred.

The sightings bar graphs depict the timing of flight(s) within each of three geographic regions. Place your cursor on a bar within the graph to see the number of individuals recorded during that period.

The abundance calendar displays the total number of individuals recorded within each week of the month. Both the graphs and the calendar are on based data collection that began in 2000.

The records analyzed here are only a beginning. As more data is collected, these maps and graphs will paint a more accurate picture of distribution and abundance in Alabama. Submit your sightings to albutterflyatlas@gmail.com.

Sightings in the following counties: Autauga, Baldwin, Barbour, Bibb, Blount, Bullock, Calhoun, Chambers, Cherokee, Chilton, Choctaw, Cleburne, Coffee, Colbert, Coosa, Covington, Crenshaw, Cullman, Dallas, DeKalb, Elmore, Escambia, Etowah, Fayette, Franklin, Geneva, Greene, Hale, Houston, Jackson, Jefferson, Lamar, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Lee, Limestone, Lowndes, Macon, Madison, Marengo, Marion, Marshall, Mobile, Monroe, Montgomery, Morgan, Perry, Pickens, Pike, Randolph, Russell, Shelby, St. Clair, Sumter, Talladega, Tuscaloosa, Walker, Washington, Wilcox

Sightings in the past 5 years
Sightings in the past 5 - 10 years
Sightings more than 10 years ago

High count(s):

18 - Perry - 8/23/2015
18 - Sumter - 10/15/2021
15 - Marshall - 6/26/2010

View county names by moving the mouse over a county or view a map with county names

Jan				Feb				Mar				Apr				May				Jun				Jul				Aug				Sep				Oct				Nov				Dec
1	2	3	4	1	2	3	4	1	2	3	4	1	2	3	4	1	2	3	4	1	2	3	4	1	2	3	4	1	2	3	4	1	2	3	4	1	2	3	4	1	2	3	4	1	2	3	4
											2	3	7	8	5	14	4	1	16	8	18	13	32	31	14	15	37	23	40	18	80	68	98	58	51	31	24	40	15	10	4

Habitat

Moist, open shrubby areas. Ususally near water.

Viceroy (*Limenitis archippus*)

County

© Sara Bright

Willow lined Cahaba River

Host and Nectar Plants

Willows (Salix spp.) and Cottonwood (Populus deltoides) are reported hosts.

Willows have been documented in Alabama.

Willows (Salix spp.) - Host Plant

For more information about these plants, please visit the Alabama Plant Atlas using the links above.

Landscaping Ideas

If your landscape includes a pond, lake, or stream, allowing willows to grow may encourage Viceroys as well as Mourning Cloaks and Red-Spotted Purples to take up residency.