Soldier (butterfly) facts for kids
The Soldier or Tropical Queen (Danaus eresimus) is a beautiful butterfly found in North America and South America. It belongs to the Nymphalidae family, also known as brush-footed butterflies. These butterflies fly slowly, making them easy to get close to. However, if you get too near, they will fly away a short distance.
Quick facts for kids Soldier |
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| Danaus eresimus | |
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D. eresimus
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| Danaus eresimus (Cramer, 1777)
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Contents
What Does the Soldier Butterfly Look Like?
The top side of the Soldier butterfly's wings is a dark reddish-brown. Its front wings sometimes have white spots along the edges. The lines on the wings, called veins, are lightly outlined in black.
Special Features of Male Butterflies
Male Soldier butterflies have a black patch on their back wings. This patch releases special scents. These scents help female butterflies find the males for mating. This special spot is called an androconium.
Underside and Size
The underside of the wings is also dark brown. There is a band of square-shaped spots in the middle of the back wing. The Soldier butterfly has a wingspan of about 2½ to 3½ inches. This is about the length of a credit card.
Similar Butterflies You Might See
The Soldier butterfly looks a lot like two other butterflies in its area. These are the Monarch (Danaus plexippus) and the Queen (Danaus gilippus).
How to Tell Them Apart
- The Monarch butterfly is usually more orange. It has thicker black lines on its veins. The underside of its wings is a pale yellowish color.
- The Queen butterfly has almost no black lines on its veins. Its front wings have white spots on both the top and bottom surfaces.
Where Do Soldier Butterflies Live?
You can find the Soldier butterfly in many open, warm places. These include citrus groves, weedy areas near water, and dry fields. They prefer subtropical habitats.
When Can You See Them Flying?
In southern Florida, you can often see these butterflies from February to December. They are most common there between October and December. In southern Texas, they are usually seen from August to January.
Life Cycle of the Soldier Butterfly
The Soldier butterfly goes through several stages in its life.
Eggs and Caterpillars
The eggs of the Soldier butterfly are bright orange. When they hatch, the caterpillars are black with white and yellow stripes. They also have a row of yellowish-tan spots near the top of their body. These caterpillars have six black, soft, finger-like parts called filaments. The first pair is near their head. The second pair is on their middle body part, called the thorax. The third pair is at the end of their body, called the abdomen.
Chrysalis
The chrysalis (the pupa stage) of the Soldier butterfly looks very much like the Monarch's chrysalis. It is very hard to tell them apart! Soldier butterflies usually have three or more groups of offspring, called broods, each year.
What Do Soldier Caterpillars Eat?
Soldier caterpillars feed on specific plants. These plants are called "host plants." Here are some of the plants they like to eat:
- Morrenia odorata - also known as Strangler Vine
- Sarcostemma clausum - also known as White Vine
- Spigelia anthelmia - also known as West Indian Pinkroot
