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Cramer, 1775

Wingspan: 3 3 3/8". Superficially resembles the Monarch, but may be told by chestnut coloration and double row of white spots crossing apex and outer edge of forewings. Florida populations of the Viceroy are similarly colored but do not occur in our area.

Southern California east to Florida and southern Georgia, and south through the West Indies and Central America to Argentina. Strays and occasionally colonizes northward to Utah, Nebraska, Kansas, and the Midwest. There is a single New England record.

Vagrant, with one Massachusetts record from Martha‘ s Vineyard, recorded by Kimball and Jones as follows: "of this southern species an example in good condition was captured on the shore of Lambert‘s Cove, July 8, 1934, by two grandsons of Major General George W. Goethals, and brought by them in fresh condition to Llewellyn W. Cleveland, Vineyard Haven, in whose collection it is preserved."

Emigrants in the eastern United States normally appear in August, but occasionally at other times (Opler and Krizek).

Milkweeds are the larval hosts.

Information for this species in Massachusetts is currently unavailable.

A variety of open habitats where milkweeds occur.

Information for this species in Massachusetts is currently unavailable.

Richard K. Walton

Read more on this species at the North American Butterfly Association.