in florida, georgia, and the american southwest, viceroys share the pattern of the queen ("danaus gilippus") and in mexico they share the pattern of the soldier ("danaus eresimus"). in all three areas, the local "danaus" population mimic the coloration of the viceroy species. it was originally believed that the viceroy was a batesian mimic of the three other species, and presumed edible or only mildly unpalatable to predators, but this has since proven not to be true. in an experiment with both the monarch's and viceroy's wings removed, birds were discovered to think the viceroy was just as unpalatable as the monarchs.