photo sharing and upload picture albums photo forums search pictures popular photos photography help login
larose forest photos | all galleries >> INSECTS (INSECTA) (28 Galleries) >> Butterflies (Lepidoptera) (8 Galleries) >> Viceroys and White Admirals (Family: Nymphalidae, Subfamily: Limenitidinae) > Mating viceroys
previous | next
27-JUL-2014 Christine Hanrahan

Mating viceroys

When I first saw these butterflies flying in the distance I hoped they were monarchs, of which we are seeing precious few up here. These viceroys are the monarch mimics, and don't they look almost identical? But the smaller size and the black line through the wings are the giveaways that these are not the real thing. Still beautiful, and this year, quite numerous, both larvae and adults.

Panasonic LUMIX FZ200
1/400s f/4.0 at 108.0mm iso125 full exif

other sizes: small medium large original auto
Robert Ballard23-Aug-2014 14:40
I would have guessed monarchs since I don't have a lot of experience with identification.
Len10-Aug-2014 13:59
Beautiful colours, well captured Christine !!!! V.
Jean Chiasson01-Aug-2014 00:54
Splendide beauté Christine big vote
Mairéad31-Jul-2014 21:23
They really are beautiful, no matter what they're called. V
Carl Carbone29-Jul-2014 01:17
And a beautiful capture, of course!
Carl Carbone29-Jul-2014 01:17
Nice find. I haven't seen any and I only saw one Monarch on the Northwestern U. campus in Evanston, Il.
Ghislaine et Réal Boulet29-Jul-2014 00:49
Superb capture.
Raymond Ma29-Jul-2014 00:07
A beautiful dance of love. V
Guest 29-Jul-2014 00:01
Mimicry is the finest form of flattery. The Viceroy knew a stylish outfit when he/she saw it.
As for the mating style, another subject for another day. V
bill friedlander28-Jul-2014 23:27
Outstanding closeup of these two! Excellent work! V
Hank Vander Velde28-Jul-2014 22:59
Nice find, image and description comparison with the Monarchs Christine.
Chris Spracklen28-Jul-2014 22:31
Superb shot of these beautiful charlatans, Christine. *V*
pkocinski28-Jul-2014 22:28
Make lots more of these little butterflies :-)
globalgadabout28-Jul-2014 22:01
faux royalty perhaps, yet striking (and acrobatic) lovers all the same...their tiffany togetherness is touching....V
Janet Forjan-Freedman28-Jul-2014 21:44
Great capture of this pair of mating mimics!
godro28-Jul-2014 21:17
great image, well done !
Cynthia (Cindy) Sutcliffe28-Jul-2014 21:14
A beautiful capture of these gorgeous butterflies.
Claude Gagnon28-Jul-2014 21:13
Great shot to get these Viceroys :))
Jean D28-Jul-2014 21:13
Excellent capture of this pair, Christine. ~V
Don28-Jul-2014 21:09
Great photo, Christine. Interesting that there are a few similar species in Australia that are probably also mimics, though the Monarch is a recent arrival so it can't be it that they're mimicking.
Helen Betts28-Jul-2014 21:07
Wow, gorgeous closeup! Even if not the real thing, they're still beautiful butterflies. V.
Terry Sprague28-Jul-2014 20:55
Awesome shot! V From the thumbnail I thought lucky Christine - monarchs!! My husband has seen a couple of monarchs recently as has my daughter, compared to none last year. Although I did see just one in my garden in last September. I'd love to find some eggs for in-house hatching, haven't done that in a few years. Hopeful that they can recover ....
Ika Zinka Eferl28-Jul-2014 20:50
Oh , really great image, Christine!V***
Jim Coffman28-Jul-2014 20:44
Great capture! I have not seen any monarchs this year!
Ton T.28-Jul-2014 20:41
Great image; love it! V
MarcViskens28-Jul-2014 20:39
very beautiful christine
Commenting on this page requires a PBase account.
Please login or register.