Viceroy Butterfly vs Common Mime
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Viceroy Butterfly | Common Mime |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Limenitis archippus | Papilio clytia |
| Order | Lepidoptera | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Nymphalidae | Papilionidae |
| Size | 53-81 mm wingspan | 80-100 mm wingspan |
| Habitat | Ponds & Lakes | Farmland |
| Diet | Dung Feeders | Nectar Feeders |
| Regions | North America | Southeast Asia (Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar, Malaysia, Indonesia, Cambodia, Laos) |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Viceroy Butterfly
Orange and black wings resembling the Monarch but with a black postmedian line across the hindwings. Once thought to be a harmless mimic, it is actually unpalatable too.
Did You Know?
It is a Mullerian co-mimic with the Monarch, as both species are distasteful to predators.
Common Mime
A polymorphic swallowtail butterfly that exists in two main forms: one mimicking the toxic Common Crow and the other mimicking the Blue Tiger. Both forms lack the typical swallowtail tails.
Did You Know?
The two distinct forms are controlled by a single genetic switch, making it one of the best examples of genetic polymorphism in butterflies.