A Monarch Mimic

Learn how viceroy butterflies are masters of disguise.

- Jill Staake

It happens to every nature enthusiast at least once. You spot an orange butterfly with black markings hovering around a pretty flower and say, “Oh, look, it’s a monarch!” Except, on closer inspection, you realize it’s not. That bold beauty is actually one of the monarch mimics—a viceroy. 

Once you know how to spot the difference, it’s easy to tell the two apart. Generally, viceroys are a bit smaller than monarchs. But the simplest way to differentiate between them is to check for the extra black line that extends all the way across the lower wing. You can see this giveaway whether the wings are open or closed.