Hodges#4616

Danaus eresimus

Classification

Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Hexapoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Superfamily: Papilionoidea
Family: Nymphalidae
Subfamily: Danainae
Tribe: Danaini
Genus: Danaus
Species: eresimus

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Danaus eresimus: //ˈdænaʊs ɛˈrɛsɪməs//

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Images

Danaus eresimus caterpillar by File:CramerAndStoll-uitlandsche kapellen supplement- pl. 06.jpg. Used under a Public domain license.

Danaus eresimus 001A by Bob Peterson. Used under a CC BY 4.0 license.

Danaus eresimus ssp. plexaure by Ben Phalan. Used under a CC BY 4.0 license.

Danaus eresimus 0zz by Photo by David J. Stang. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.

Danaus eresimus montezuma by Francisco Farriols Sarabia. Used under a CC BY 4.0 license.

Danaus eresimus eresimus MHNT dos by Didier Descouens. Used under a CC BY-SA 3.0 license.

Summary

Danaus eresimus, commonly known as the tropical queen or soldier, is a butterfly species in the Nymphalidae family, native to North America, the Caribbean, and South America. It is characterized by its dark reddish brown wings and relatively slow flight, often seen in subtropical habitats.

Physical Characteristics

Dorsal surface dark reddish brown; forewings may have white submarginal spots; veins lightly marked with black. Males possess black scent patches on hindwings. Underside is dark brown with a postmedian band composed of squarish spots. Wingspan approximately 2.5 to 3.5 inches (64–76 mm).

Identification Tips

Similar to monarch (Danaus plexippus) which has a more orange color and heavier black-lined veins; and queen (Danaus gilippus) which has nearly no black-marked veins and white submarginal spots on both surfaces.

Habitat

Found in various open, subtropical habitats such as citrus groves and weedy water edges where host plants grow.

Distribution

Common in southern Florida, southern Texas, the Caribbean, and parts of South America. A few individuals stray north in autumn.

Diet

Larvae feed on plants such as Morrenia odorata (strangler vine), Funastrum clausum (white vine), and Spigelia anthelmia (West Indian pinkroot).

Life Cycle

Males patrol for females. The eggs are bright orange; larvae are black with white and yellow stripes and have three pairs of black, fleshy filaments. The chrysalis is similar to that of the monarch butterfly.

Reproduction

Oviposition occurs primarily on host plants, with eggs being bright orange.

Evolution

Tropical species that began to colonize Florida in the 1970s, with distinct populations in the Caribbean and Mexico.