Date: 10/20/2017

Number: 12

About half of them were really small, like Painted Ladies size. I have never seen a Viceroy in this area but I didn't look for the additional line on their wings.

I have seen several on other days and actually raised one myself this year. When the cat went to the top of the cage it was so small that I thought it had inadvertently moved away from the plant and so, I returned it to the leaves--it was the size of a 3rd instar. It went back to the top an made a chrysalis. I thought for sure that it would turn out too be infected with flies but it eclosed, appeared fine but small and was released.

I mentioned this in my reports because I find it so strange and important to report. They were definitely not painted ladies, of which I have had many. They were also not Queens. The only possibility would be Viceroys. I did not see any additional lines on their wings, though, and I looked closely enough to identify some of them as males and females. My husband grew up with Viceroys and said these were not Viceroys. I do not believe we have Viceroys in Missouri and I have never seen one myself except in pictures. I also came inside and looked up pictures of Queens and Viceroys to know what I should be looking for. These were about the same size as the largest of the Painted Ladies that I have seen.

Kirkwood, MO

Latitude: 38.6 Longitude: -90.4

Observed by: Kathy
Contact Observer

The observer's e-mail address will not be disclosed.
Contact will be made through a web-based form.