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Digital Guide to Moth Identification

Nymphalidae 77a0708 – 4615   Danaus gilippus (Cramer, [1775])

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Larva and Host Plants: Host familiy: Apocynaceae[Asclepiadaceae].  Host genera: Asclepias Blepharodon Calotropis Ceropegia Cynanchum[=Vincetoxicum] Funastrum[=Sarcostemma][=Cynanch...  Host extended: larvae eat leaves, flowers, and stems (Scott 2020).  (Kimberley & Douglas 2025) Similar Species: Pinned specimens of related species. (Hint: select View by Region on the related species page.) Synonymy: gilippus (Cramer, [1775]) (Papilio) extralim. - MONA 1983: 4615 ssp. a. berenice (Cramer, [1779]) (Papilio) ssp. b. thersippus (Bates, 1863) (Danais)  esperanza (Hoffmann, 1924) (Danais)  gilippina (Hoffmann, 1940) (Anosia)  kerri (Comstock, 1925) (Danais)  strigosus (Bates, 1864) (Danais) ssp. c. cleothera (Godart, [1819]) (Danais) excl. ssp. d. jamaicensis Bates, 1864 (Danaus) excl.

References (Caution: DNA barcoding at BOLD provides evidence of relatedness, not proof of identification; some BOLD specimens shown may not be sequenced.)

Barcode of Life (BOLD) - Caution: Identifications often erroneous; DNA barcode provides evidence of relatedness, not proof of identification; many specimens not sequenced. Shropshire, K.J. & D.W. Tallamy, 2025. Lepidoptera of North America, north of Mexico: an annotated list containing geographic ranges and host-plant records. ZooKeys, 1261: 101-113; Suppl. 1. (PDF or read online) Species Page at BugGuide.Net Species Page at iNaturalist Species Page at the Butterflies of America

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