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
Pollinator Week was June 20-26, 2022!
Butterflies and moths are accidental pollinators of many flowering plants. While most species do not have special structures to carry pollen, they do brush against pollen and transfer it to other flowers.
Did you know? The Eastern Tailed-Blue (Cupido comyntas) flies close to the ground and uses its short proboscis to probe flowers of wild strawberry, white sweet clover, and other low-lying plants.
Verified Sightings
Displaying 25 - 48 of 127 verified sightings
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
Observation date: Nov 06, 2015
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Apr 14, 2016
Observation date: Nov 01, 2015
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Apr 14, 2016
Observation date: Jul 15, 2013
Submitted by: Ron Smith
Region: Pinellas County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jul 26, 2015
Observation date: Feb 15, 2014
Submitted by: Doug Taron
Region: Jalisco, Mexico
Verified by: Doug Taron
Verified date: Feb 23, 2014
Observation date: Dec 14, 2013
Submitted by: plex1ppus
Region: Lee County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jan 11, 2014
Observation date: Nov 09, 2013
Submitted by: Sparks7
Region: Burnet County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Dec 22, 2013
Observation date: Dec 14, 2013
Submitted by: Sandy White
Region: Lee County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Dec 19, 2013
Observation date: Nov 18, 2013
Submitted by: lmreid71
Region: Comal County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Nov 18, 2013
Observation date: Sep 22, 2006
Submitted by: sueredfish
Region: Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Sep 30, 2013
Observation date: Sep 08, 2013
Submitted by: sueredfish
Region: Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Sep 30, 2013
Observation date: Jul 25, 2013
Submitted by: bentert
Region: Collier County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Sep 20, 2013
Observation date: Nov 26, 2012
Submitted by: Shirley Wilkerson
Region: Brazos County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jul 28, 2013
Observation date: Jul 25, 2013
Submitted by: Sandy White
Region: Lee County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jul 25, 2013
Observation date: Jan 29, 2013
Submitted by: PDunwiddie
Region: Lee County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Mar 09, 2013
Observation date: Oct 03, 2010
Submitted by: Doug Taron
Region: Veracruz-Llave, Mexico
Verified by: Doug Taron
Verified date: Jan 22, 2013
Observation date: Oct 13, 1971
Submitted by: stomlins701
Region: Bexar County, Texas, United States
Verified by: aahewetson
Verified date: Dec 26, 2012
Observation date: Sep 23, 2012
Submitted by: Tatiana Staats
Region: Sarasota County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Nov 07, 2012
Observation date: Jul 26, 2011
Submitted by: Corkscrew
Region: Collier County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jun 15, 2012
Observation date: Nov 12, 2007
Submitted by: dmtaggart
Region: Quintana Roo, Mexico
Verified by: paulopler
Verified date: Aug 10, 2011
Observation date: Jul 19, 1998
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (D. Carter)
Region: New Hanover County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Notes on the Butterflies of North Carolina Database)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: BAMONA (Marian Mendez)
Region: Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Sep 06, 2010
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