Red-spotted Purple (Butterflies of Alabama)

Red-spotted Purple

Limenitis arthemis astyanax

Summary ⁷

The White Admiral or Red-spotted Purple (Limenitis arthemis) is a polytypic species of North American brush-footed butterfly, common throughout much of the eastern United States. L. a. astyanax has red spots on its underside and the top of the wings are notable for their iridescent blue markings. L. a. arthemis on the other hand has a large white band traversing both the forewings and hindwings.

North american ecology (us and canada) ⁸

Limenitis arthemis astyanax is resident to eastern Canada and the northeastern US., migratory to the west in some parts of its range. This is the southern sub-species of this species and mimics the pipevine swallowtail, with which it co-occurs. The northern subspecies, L. a. arthemis, does not mimic the pipevine and so shows a different color pattern (Scott 1986). Habitats are deciduous wooded areas. Host plants are trees species from families including Saliaceae, Betulaceae, Rosaceae, Fagaceae, Ulmaceae and Tiliaceae. Eggs are laid on the host plant singly. Individuals overwinter in a hibernaculum as third instar larvae. There is a variable number flights each year depending on latitude, with one flight approximately July15-Aug15 in the northern part of the range and multiple flights in the south between Mar 1-Nov. 30 (Scott 1986).