Soldier
Danaus eresimus (Cramer, 1777)
Family: Nymphalidae
Subfamily: 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.
Wing Span: 2 3/4 - 3 3/4 inches (7 - 9.5 cm).
Life History: Not reported.
Flight: From August-December in South Texas; all year in southern Florida, most common from October-December.
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.
NCGR: 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.
Comments: NULL
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 124 verified sightings
Observation date: Nov 14, 2016
Submitted by: Rob Wu
Region: New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Aug 01, 2021
Observation date: Oct 28, 2019
Submitted by: wallap74
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Nov 11, 2019
Observation date: Nov 08, 2018
Submitted by: Craig M Lipski
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Oct 16, 2019
Observation date: Oct 22, 2016
Submitted by: TCollins
Region: Texas, Kerr County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Aug 18, 2019
Observation date: May 15, 2019
Submitted by: Ron Smith
Region: Pinellas County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: May 16, 2019
Observation date: Nov 04, 2018
Submitted by: hydapse
Region: Texas, Starr County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jan 27, 2019
Observation date: Nov 04, 2018
Submitted by: hydapse
Region: Texas, Starr County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jan 27, 2019
Observation date: Nov 04, 2018
Submitted by: hiker96
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Nov 22, 2018
Observation date: Oct 17, 2015
Submitted by: Tommie Rogers
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jun 28, 2018
Observation date: Jan 28, 2018
Submitted by: Reiner Jakubowski
Region: Palm Beach County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Feb 08, 2018
Observation date: Nov 11, 2017
Submitted by: wallap74
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jan 08, 2018
Observation date: Dec 03, 2017
Submitted by: Paul Prappas
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Dec 03, 2017
Observation date: Nov 03, 2017
Submitted by: Christinalea
Region: Texas, Travis County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Nov 03, 2017
Observation date: Jan 21, 2017
Submitted by: Doug Taron
Region: Michoacan de Ocampo, Mexico
Verified by: Doug Taron
Verified date: Jan 28, 2017
Observation date: Jul 12, 2016
Submitted by: LLJohnson
Region: Dominican Republic
Verified by: Doug Taron
Verified date: Jan 11, 2017
Observation date: Dec 06, 2016
Submitted by: Waystation1067
Region: Fort Bend County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Dec 09, 2016
Observation date: Nov 14, 2016
Submitted by: rkost73
Region: Texas, Menard County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Nov 16, 2016
Observation date: Nov 12, 2016
Submitted by: abwest
Region: Bexar County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Nov 13, 2016
Observation date: Nov 02, 2016
Submitted by: randimal
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Nov 13, 2016
Observation date: Nov 10, 2016
Submitted by: rkost73
Region: Texas, United States, Williamson County
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Nov 10, 2016
Observation date: Oct 31, 2016
Submitted by: rchensley
Region: Comal County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Nov 04, 2016
Observation date: Oct 28, 2016
Submitted by: Jachan1
Region: Texas, United States, Webb County
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Oct 29, 2016
Observation date: Oct 28, 2016
Submitted by: gregsnyder
Region: Texas, Tarrant County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Oct 29, 2016
Observation date: Oct 19, 2016
Submitted by: Christinalea
Region: Texas, Travis County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Oct 20, 2016
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