Butterflies of Zihuatanejo

SUPERFAMILY PAPILIONOIDEA

-Tiger Butterflies (Subtribe Danaina)

-Tiger Milkweed Butterflies (Genus Danaus)

-Soldier (Danaus eresimus)

Danaus eresimus, commonly known as the Soldier Butterfly, is a medium-sized butterfly in the family Nymphalidae, closely related to monarchs and queens. It is recognized by its rich orange wings bordered with dark brown to black, accented with small white spots along the margins. Compared to the Monarch (Danaus plexippus), the Soldier is typically darker and more uniform in color, with fewer bold black veins and a deeper, reddish-orange tone. The underside is similar but slightly paler, allowing some camouflage when at rest. Like other members of the genus Danaus, the caterpillars feed on plants in the milkweed family (Apocynaceae), including species such as Asclepias. By consuming these toxic plants, the larvae—and later the adults—become chemically protected from predators, advertising their unpalatability with their bright coloration.

Diet

Adults feed on nectar from a wide variety of flowering plants, particularly composites and other nectar-rich flowers in open habitats.
Caterpillars feed on milkweeds and milkweed vines (Apocynaceae).
The caterpillars are boldly banded in black, white, and yellow and possess three pairs of fleshy filaments.

Range

The Soldier has a broad distribution from southern Texas and Florida through Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America, and into northern and central South America, reaching Brazil.
It is an occasional butterfly in the Zihua area, particularly where milkweed vines and flowering plants occur in open or semi-open habitat.

Habitat

It favours open tropical woodland, forest edges, pastures, fields, scrub, roadsides, gardens, and disturbed areas.
In tropical regions it is particularly associated with seasonally dry vegetation and places where milkweed vines grow among shrubs and other low vegetation.
Adults often perch on grasses, shrubs, or the tips of dry vegetation and fly in a relatively slow, steady manner.

Description

A medium-to-large butterfly with a wingspan of approximately 64–76 mm.
The upper wings are dark reddish brown to orange-brown, becoming darker toward the bases. Fine black veins are visible but are much less prominent than those of the Monarch.
The forewing has two rows of small white spots along the dark outer border, with additional pale spots toward the apex.
The hindwing has a dark border containing two rows of white spots. Males have a distinctive black scent patch on each hindwing.
The underside is darker brown and has a conspicuous postmedian band of pale, squarish spots, an especially useful feature for distinguishing the Soldier from the very similar Queen (Danaus gilippus).
Compared with the Queen, the Soldier is generally more orange and has more clearly defined black veins.