Limenitis arthemis astyanax
Table of Contents
Common Name: Red-spotted Purple
Scientific Classification
| Kingdom: Animalia |
| Phylum: Arthropoda |
| Class: Insecta |
| Order: Lepidoptera |
| Family: Nymphalidae |
| Genus: Limenitis |
| Species: Limenitis arthemis astyanax |
Conservation Status
Identifying Features
Red-spotted purple butterflies have a 2-4" wingspan. They are black in color with blue edges on their wings, with orange and white spots on the tips.
Habitat & Range
They are found in forests throughout the Eastern and central United States.
Behavior
The adults feed on sap, carrion, rotting fruit, and some viburnum flowers.
Life Cycle
The caterpillars will overwinter by creating a hibernacula, or place to hibernate, for themselves out of leaves.
Featured image by James Dake
Related
Limenitis archippus
Viceroy
Danaus plexippus
Monarch
Nymphalis antiopa
Mourning Cloak