Here is our eighth post in our series, The Beauty Around Us: “Royal” Butterflies.
Southwest Florida is home to many beautiful butterflies. Three of them have similar coloration and “royal” names: Monarch, Queen and Viceroy.
Monarchs and Queens both use plants in the milkweed family as hosts for their caterpillars, while Viceroys lay their eggs on Willows.
Monarchs are known for their long-range migrations, but some Monarchs in Florida do not migrate.
Dr. Bill Dunson shared a post on the LBC website about watching the birth of a Monarch butterfly. You can read about it at this link: https://lemonbayconservancy.org/remarkable-birth-monarch-butterfly/
As you look at these three regal types of butterflies in the photos below, can you tell them apart? The names of the butterflies are included below the photos.
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- Queen
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- Monarch
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- Viceroy
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- Queen
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- Queens
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- Viceroy
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- Monarch
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- Queen
Photos by Lemon Bay Conservancy Board Member Eva Furner
Since 1971, Lemon Bay Conservancy has been working to protect our beautiful local environment.