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.

Distribution ⁸

occurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations

Flowering plants visited by limenitis arthemis arthemis in illinois ⁹

Limenitis arthemis arthemis Drury: Nymphalidae, Lepidoptera
(observations are from Keddy & Keddy and Lovell; this butterfly is the White Admiral)

Araliaceae: Aralia racemosa sn (Lvl); Asteraceae: Cirsium pitcheri sn fq (KK)
Insect activities:
fq = frequent flower visitor (about 6 or more visits reported)
sn = sucks nectar

Scientific observers:
(KK) = Keddy & Keddy

Behaviour ¹⁰

Adults feed on a variety of sources. Males both perch and patrol for females (Scott, 1986).

National nature serve conservation status ¹¹

Canada

United States

Sources and Credits

1. (c) Gilles Gonthier, some rights reserved (CC BY), http://www.flickr.com/photos/46788399@N00/665086920
2. (c) Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), https://mczbase.mcz.harvard.edu/specimen_images/ent-lepidoptera/images/2011_08_15/IMG_095201.JPG
3. (c) Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), https://mczbase.mcz.harvard.edu/specimen_images/ent-lepidoptera/images/2011_12_05/IMG_108356.JPG
4. (c) Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), https://mczbase.mcz.harvard.edu/specimen_images/ent-lepidoptera/images/2011_12_05/IMG_108357.JPG
5. (c) Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), https://mczbase.mcz.harvard.edu/specimen_images/ent-lepidoptera/images/2011_08_16/IMG_095568.JPG
6. (c) Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), https://mczbase.mcz.harvard.edu/specimen_images/ent-lepidoptera/images/2011_08_22/IMG_096587.JPG
7. (c) Wikipedia, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limenitis_arthemis_arthemis
8. (c) NatureServe, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://eol.org/data_objects/28771784
9. (c) John Hilty, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://eol.org/data_objects/32782527
10. (c) Leslie Ries, some rights reserved (CC BY), http://eol.org/data_objects/20604850
11. (c) NatureServe, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://eol.org/data_objects/28771781

More Info

• iNaturalist.ca taxon page
• Animal Diversity Web
• Biodiversity Heritage Library
• BOLD Systems BIN search
• BugGuide
• Butterflies and Moths of North America
• CUIC Insect Images
• Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF)
• HOSTS - a Database of the World's Lepidopteran Hostplants
• Mass Moths
• Moth Photographers Group
• NatureServe Explorer 2.0
• Pacific Northwest Moths

Range Map

(c) NatureServe, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)

iNaturalist.ca Map