Weidemeyer’s Admiral Butterflies In The Wasatch Mountains

Weidemeyer’s Admiral butterfly resting on Gambel’s Oak – Nikon D500, f8, 1/1000, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

Last week I was able to photograph Weidemeyer’s Admiral butterflies up in the Wasatch Mountains on two consecutive days and the butterflies had me all aflutter. You see, I’ve seen the Weidemeyer’s Admirals before but I’ve never been able to lock focus on them before they’ve flown away.

Resting Weidemeyer’s Admiral butterfly – Nikon D500, f11, 1/640, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

Seeing the Weidemeyer’s Admirals floating by has always been wonderful but I wanted photos of these striking black and white butterflies too.

So when I saw one land on a Gambel Oak leaf on Thursday of last week I had to at least try and get a few photos of it. At first the butterfly was so flattened out on the oak leaf that I had trouble photographing more than its face but when it flew to another oak and landed I was finally able to get photos that showed both the top and bottom of its wings.

I did a little research online and found out on butterfliesandmoths.org that the males of this species often perch on trees and shrubs to watch for receptive females so this Weidemeyer’s Admiral might be a male.

Weidemeyer’s Admiral butterfly next to a gravel road – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/1600, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

On Friday of last week I was just about to head home when I saw another Weidemeyer’s Admiral butterfly land on the shoulder of the gravel road road I was traveling on. Even though the sun was getting high, the setting wasn’t very pretty, and the light was bit contrasty these butterflies have evaded me for many years so then to have another chance with this species I felt that I just had to get more photos.

Adult Weidemeyer’s Admiral butterfly in the Wasatch Mountains – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/2000, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

This Weidemeyer’s Admiral butterfly may have been extracting minerals from the surface of the damp gravel road.  That butterfly behavior is called “puddling” and many species do it. In this case I can’t be 100% certain that this butterfly was puddling but it sure seemed to me that it was. I was happy that the butterfly landed on the road and that I was there to take images of it.

I’m delighted that I had these Weidemeyer’s Admiral butterflies in my viewfinder.

Life is good. Stay safe.

Mia

Weidemeyer’s Admiral butterfly facts and information:

Limenitis weidemeyerii

• Weidemeyer’s Admiral butterflies are large admirals with coal black wings above that are crossed by broad white bands. From below front wings have two reddish bars, hind wings are bluish gray with black cross lines inside the white band, outside of the band is a row of reddish spots.
• Weidemeyer’s Admiral butterflies are found primarily in the western U.S., some parts of southwestern Canada and some parts of northern Mexico.
• Weidemeyer’s Admiral butterflies habitat includes watercourses with willows and cottonwoods, deciduous forests, sandhills, sage flats, washes, mountainsides, lakesides, gardens, and near streams.
• Wing Span of Weidemeyer’s Admiral butterflies is 2 1/4 – 3 3/4 inches (5.7 – 9.5 cm)
• Weidemeyer’s Admiral butterfly larva feed on aspen, cottonwoods, willows and serviceberry trees and shrubs. Adult Weidemeyer’s Admiral butterflies feed on tree sap, carrion and flower nectar.