How to tell apart four orange and black butterflies
An orange and black butterfly flits by.
Many people immediately think "monarch," but there are actually quite a number of orange and black butterflies in Iowa and throughout the United States.
Three butterflies in the Iowa Great Lakes area that often get confused with the monarch butterfly are the painted lady, viceroy and red admiral. So let's take a look at how to tell some of these common butterflies apart!
Monarch (Danaus plexippus)
The monarch butterfly is perhaps the poster child for butterflies. It is easily spotted because of its large, bright orange wings with black lines. It also has a thick black band on the edge of its wings with white spots.
In Iowa, the monarch butterfly is usually sighted July-September, with numbers slowly increasing until peak migration time about the first week of September. During this point, monarch butterflies may gather in great numbers on trees or other wind-protected areas to roost before continuing the journey south to overwinter in Mexico.
Its host plant is milkweed, so it will lay all eggs on milkweed, and its caterpillars only eat milkweed. As an adult, it will forage for nectar on a variety of native prairie flowers.
(Read about the monarch's life cycle)
Viceroy (Limenitis archippus)
The viceroy looks closest to the monarch butterfly because it is a mimic of the monarch. It also has rusty-orange wings with black veins, however, it has a black line on its hind wing that the monarch does not have. It also has a crossband on its forewing --- the top wing --- that has white spots, which the monarch does not have.
It can be seen mid-May through October with peaks in August. Its larvae will consume willows and aspens.
(Five plants to start your pollinator garden)
Painted lady (Vanessa cardui)
Although also orange and black, the painted lady has quite a different pattern from a monarch butterfly. As the wings approach the body, they become almost a dusty brown, and the lower wings have a mottled appearance. They are also similar to the American lady butterfly but have blue-centered eyespots on the lower hind wing. American lady butterflies have two large eyespots on the hind wing.
Painted lady butterflies can be seen early April through mid-November, with the peak in July and August. They larvae often eat thistle species, but more than 100 host plants have been recorded worldwide. The painted lady is one of the most largely distributed butterflies in the world and has been found on all continents except Australia and Antactica.
Red admiral (Vanessa atalanta)
The red admiral has more black than the other butterflies listed. It has a black upper forewing with a bright, diagonal red band that sometimes appears orange. It also has a red marginal band on its hindwing --- the bottom wing. The lower hindwing --- the underside or bottom of the lower wing --- is mottled brown, black and tan.
The red admiral is a breeding resident of Iowa, and its larvae eats nettles.
Size is also a great way to tell other brush-footed butterflies apart from the monarch butterfly. The monarch butterfly is quite large in comparison to the others, with a wingspan of 9-10 cm. The viceroy has a wingspan of 6.7-7.5 cm. The painted lady is even smaller with a 5.1-5.5 cm wingspan, and the red admiral is the smallest yet with a 4.5-5.5 cm wingspan.
You can also see in the graphics the differences in patterns.
Although all four butterflies are in the Nymphalidae family of brush-footed butterflies, each is different in its own way.
Early spring butterflies
Almost 70 species of butterflies have been seen in Dickinson County, Iowa, and the time of year can be told from which ones are most active. In fact, you can tell when spring is making its appearance by which butterflies are hatching after overwintering in the chrysalis state or from spots further south. The mourning Read More »
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Five fun facts about painted lady butterflies
1. The painted lady isn’t picky. Unlike many butterflies that have certain host plants that they lay eggs on and that caterpillars eat — the monarch butterfly host plant is milkweed — the painted lady has been noted to have more than 100 host plants. Caterpillars will eat thistles, hollyhocks and legumes. It is sometimes Read More »
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Six facts about viceroy butterflies
You see a black-and-orange butterfly flitting around, but it looks too small to be a monarch butterfly. This butterfly has very similar markings, except for the black line across its hindwing. What could it be? It’s a viceroy! 1. Viceroys are mimics. Viceroy butterflies mimic monarch butterflies, and it was long thought that was because Read More »
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10 facts about red admiral butterflies
We’ve noticed a lot of red admirals lately. They might not be as big or as flashy as monarchs, but these little orangish-red and black butterflies are really neat. Here are 10 things that make red admiral butterflies (Vanessa atalanta) unique: 1. They like stinging nettle. We’ve all reached down to pull a weed and Read More »
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A butterfly’s bilateral symmetry
The line of symmetry is the imaginary line that divides something into two exactly equal and opposite parts. These two parts mirror each other; you can fold the figure in half and the two parts match exactly. Take a look at a monarch butterfly. Notice how the wings are identical but opposite; they are an Read More »
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Make a coffee filter butterfly
It’s not any surprise that we love butterflies at the Dickinson County Nature Center. We also love butterfly crafts! This coffee filter butterfly is one that we made at the 2018 Bee & Butterfly Festival. It’s simple, but kids really love the colorful creations they can make. Plus, you can glue them to a magnet Read More »
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Toilet paper tube butterfly ornaments
My fingers are stained orange like I just ate a bag of Cheetos. At least that’s what naturalist Ashley Hansen said when she looked at me. But it was for a good cause. See, I just spent 10 minutes coloring an empty toilet paper tube orange to make a super fun Christmas tree ornament! All Read More »
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Today I went to our local street fair (The Solano Stroll, Berkeley+Albany Calif.) and as I stood for a moment talking to an old friend I had run into after many years, a lovely orange butterfly fluttered across the crowd and landed on my outstretched hand! It stayed there peacefully for well over a minute. It was not a Monarch. I have been scrolling thru this website and others trying to identify it. More of a lighter orange, and a very dark fringey body. I am not superstitious, but have to wonder what (if anything) this could mean. I just felt honored and humbled that such a creature chose to come and land on me.
D. Dhillon
Berkeley CA
We’ve been seeing maybe a dozen or so Red Admiral’s flying through our backyard after dinner while sitting on our back deck. They are friendly and land close to where we sit! I was able to take great shots of them. They look like they are having a great time frolicking! We live in Southern NJ.
I was in Goathland N Yorkshire today sitting in the garden of a tea room. When three or four gorgeous butterflies fluttered round causing quite a stir. I think they were red admiral. I’ve got great pictures but I’m still not sure.
July 7, 2019 A Red Admiral flew into my garage and I got great pictures. Never Sean in Michigan before.
Me too!! I have three on my porch looking right at me right as I type this! I’m in Clinton township, Michigan! I went to go out the door and one flew right up to me trying to follow me back in the house! Where are these coming from I’ve never seen them before! Whats odd is my late grandfather raised me and my brothers i was told our loved ones show up as butterflies. He loved harley Davidson’ motorcycles and tomatoes and that first time I noticed these butterflies was on his birthday the 4th of July sitting right up above my tomato plants! They are exactly the color of the harley emblem. A real coincidence? No idea but it’s a little weird right about now. lol In just exited as a person I rarely ever see any butterflies yet here I have three in just my yard alone. ❤
I have 2-5 red admiral butterflies visit me each evening since my husband died on23 Apr 2018. I believe that he and God send them to let me know he’s ok. His high school colors were orange and black, just like the butterflies. They frequently land on me and do touch and go landings on me which I believe are kisses. They visit throughout butterfly season. I live in Seaford, Va.
There must be a Viceroy convention in Gilman, Iowa this week. They are out in great numbers.
I have seen several orange and black butterflies in our yard. We live in central New Mexico. Haven’t ever seen them before this year. Not sure what they are
Saw several (maybe less than 50) today in Martha, Oklahoma (SW part of the state). Saw hundreds of Monarchs in the same area last fall.
As I looked closer, I found a few Painted Ladies in the same area, but only a few compared to the Red Admirals.
Evanston,Il.
Have spotted several hundred Red Admiral butterflies amongst pachasandra blossoms in the yard of our condominium both yesterday and today in Evanston, Il.
I was able to identify them with the pictures you posted under How to tell apart four orange and black butterflies.
Great!