Friday Butterfly Blogging: The Viceroy

This is a Viceroy, Limenitis archippus (click the pic to enlarge). It is best distinguished from the Monarch by the black lines across the veins of the hindwings. It was once thought that the Viceroy's resemblance to the Monarch protected it from predators due to the Monarch's Toxicity. The Viceroy has since been shown to be distasteful to predators as well, helping to protect both species. The first situation would be an example of Batesian mimicry, the second is an example of Mullerian mimicry.

Don't forget to check out Modulator's Friday Ark.