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| Red-Spotted Purple |
Latin
Name: Limenitis arthemis astyanax |
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Genus: Limenitis Species: arthemis astyanax |
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Comments: |
| The Red-Spotted Purple, although lacking a hindwing tail, mimics the toxic Pipevine Swallowtail to gain protection from would-be predators. It is a common butterfly of immature woodlands but is rarely encountered in large numbers. Adults have a strong, gliding flight and are often quite wary. Males perch on sunlit branches along trails or forest borders and make periodic exploratory flights. Adults occasionally visit flowers but often prefer rotting fruit, dung, carrion or tree sap. |
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Life
Cycle: |
Broods: |
multiple generations |
Egg: |
gray-green, laid singly on the tips of host leaves |
Larva: |
mottled green, brown and cream with two long, knobby horns on thorax |
Host Plants: |
Wild Cherry |
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Host
Plants: |
Host
Plants: |
Wild Cherry |
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Habitat: |
Habitat: |
open woodlands, forest edges and adjacent open areas |
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Wingspan: |
Inches: |
3 - 3.5 |
Centimeters: |
7.6 - 8.9 |
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Appearance: |
Sexes: |
similar |
Compare: |
Pipevine Swallowtail has hindwing tail and a low, rapid flight; continually flutters wings when nectaring. |
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| Markings: |
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Above:
- dark bluish black with iridescent blue scaling on hindwing and small orange and white spots near forewing apex
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Below:
- brownish black; hindwings have a row of redorange spots toward the outer margin and at wing base; forewing has orange cell bars
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Map Legend: Resident (green) | Stray
(Red) |
