Mimic
Hypolimnas misippus (Linnaeus, 1764)
Family: Nymphalidae
Subfamily: Nymphalinae
Identification: Upperside of male is purple-black with a large white patch on each wing. The most common form of the female is orange above; forewing has a black apical area divided by a band of white spots, hindwing has a black marginal band. The orange female mimics an African butterfly, Danaus chrysippus.
Wing Span: 2 3/16 - 3 1/2 inches (5.6 - 9 cm).
Life History: Males perch on or near the ground to watch for receptive females. Caterpillars live and feed communally.
Flight: Two broods from April-May and September-December.
Caterpillar Hosts: Various plants in the mallow (Malvaceae), acanthus (Acanthaceae), morning glory (Convolvulaceae), and purslane (Portulacaceae) families.
Adult Food: Not reported.
Habitat: Tropical open, weedy areas.
Range: Tropics and subtropics of Asia and Africa. Is now resident on several of the Caribbean Islands, and may have been introduced by slave trading ships. Infrequently wanders to Mississippi, Florida, and North Carolina.
Conservation: Not required for a rare stray.
NCGR: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: None reported.
Comments: NULL
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 29 verified sightings
Observation date: Nov 06, 2022
Submitted by: Jan_Johnston
Region: Palm Beach County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Nov 08, 2022
Observation date: Aug 01, 2016
Submitted by: Lbrannick
Region: St. Thomas
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Oct 24, 2022
Observation date: Sep 17, 2016
Submitted by: James Reber
Region: New Hanover County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Dec 08, 2020
Observation date: Oct 17, 2017
Submitted by: ShieldsM
Region: Onslow County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Dec 07, 2020
Observation date: Nov 13, 2020
Submitted by: Mikelchap (Jan Hansen)
Region: Chatham County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Nov 15, 2020
Observation date: Oct 13, 2020
Submitted by: KateTweedy
Region: Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Oct 18, 2020
Observation date: Sep 13, 2020
Submitted by: Florabundance G...
Region: McIntosh County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Sep 16, 2020
Observation date: Sep 12, 2017
Submitted by: sabatsav
Region: Chatham County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Oct 12, 2017
Observation date: Sep 09, 2017
Submitted by: John Calhoun (Tanya Glasgow via Linda Cooper)
Region: Palm Beach County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Sep 14, 2017
Observation date: Aug 28, 2017
Submitted by: AmyandLeigh
Region: Monroe County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 31, 2017
Observation date: Aug 25, 2017
Submitted by: John Calhoun (Eva Teuton)
Region: Marion County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 31, 2017
Observation date: Aug 28, 2017
Submitted by: John Calhoun (Leigh Williams and Amy Grimm)
Region: Monroe County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 30, 2017
Observation date: Aug 30, 2016
Submitted by: neflodonata
Region: Nassau County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 31, 2016
Observation date: Sep 30, 2015
Submitted by: Ron Smith
Region: Pinellas County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Oct 07, 2015
Observation date: Aug 26, 2014
Submitted by: LLJohnson
Region: Dominican Republic
Verified by: Doug Taron
Verified date: Aug 30, 2014
Observation date: Jul 18, 2008
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Wayne Petersen #)
Region: Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: sharonstichter2 (MBC Recordkeeper)
Verified date: Jan 01, 2012
Observation date: Sep 19, 2004
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (M. Dunn)
Region: Chatham County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Notes on the Butterflies of North Carolina Database)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
Observation date: Nov 09, 1975
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Cavanaugh)
Region: Craven County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Notes on the Butterflies of North Carolina Database)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
Observation date: May 15, 2010
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (David Cimprich)
Region: Coryell County, Texas, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Richard Kostecke)
Verified date: Apr 04, 2011
Observation date: Aug 20, 2008
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Jacqueline Kern)
Region: St. Johns County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun (John Calhoun)
Verified date: Sep 29, 2008
Observation date: Sep 19, 2004
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Mike Dunn)
Region: Chatham County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: harrylegrand (Harry LeGrand)
Verified date: Oct 25, 2006
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Hancock County, Mississippi, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: Jan 01, 2001
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Charles Bordelon and Ed Knudson)
Region: Cameron County, Texas, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Charles Bordelon and Ed Knudson)
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
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