Species Detail

Soldier

Danaus eresimus (Cramer, 1777)

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Attributes of Danaus eresimus

Family: Brush-footed Butterflies (Nymphalidae)

Subfamily: Milkweed Butterflies (Danainae)

Identification: Upperside is brownish orange, darker at the wing bases; both wings with thin black veins. Black borders of forewings have 2 rows of white spots; white spots are scattered at the forewing apex. Underside of hindwing has black veins; black borders of both wings have 2 rows of white spots. Upperside of male hindwing has a black scale patch. Very similar to the Queen (Danaus gilippus), but upperside of the forewing usually lacks larger white spots below the apex. Upperside is more orange and the wing veins are more defined than the Queen. Underside of hindwing has a band of blotchy pale spots, which are lacking in the Queen.

Life history: Not reported.

Flight: From August-December in South Texas; all year in southern Florida, most common from October-December.

Wing span: 2 3/4 - 3 3/4 inches (7 - 9.5 cm).

Caterpillar hosts: Milkweeds and milkweed vines.

Adult food: Flower nectar.

Habitat: Open pastures and fields, edges of seasonally dry tropical forests.

Range: Southern Florida and South Texas south through the West Indies and Central America to Brazil. A rare stray to southern Arizona and southern New Mexico.

Conservation: Not usually required.

NatureServe Global Status: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.

Management needs: Conserve breeding areas in refuges along the lower Rio Grande Valley, Texas.