Red-spotted Purple Butterfly Images

Red-spotted Purple Butterfly Images, Facts and Information:

Limenitis arthemis ssp. astyanax

• Red-spotted Purple butterflies have dark blue-black wings with iridescent blue hindwings and a row of red-orange spots near the wing margins. The undersides of the wings are brown with blue-green iridescence and red-orange spots.
• Red-spotted Purples are found in eastern North America, from Florida to southern Canada and west to the Great Plains. They are most common in deciduous woodlands and forest edges.
• Red-spotted Purple butterflies inhabit deciduous forests, woodland edges, river valleys, parks, and suburban areas with trees.
• Red-spotted Purples feed on tree sap, rotting fruit, dung, and carrion. Caterpillars eat leaves of various trees including wild cherry, poplar, and willow.
• Red-spotted Purple butterflies lay single green eggs on host plant leaves. Caterpillars go through 5 instars before pupating. Adults emerge in about 10-14 days.
• Red-spotted Purples are known for mimicking the poisonous Pipevine Swallowtail butterfly.
• A group of butterflies can be called a “flutter”, “swarm”, “rabble”, or “kaleidoscope” of butterflies.
• The average lifespan of an adult Red-spotted Purple butterfly is about 6-14 days.

I hope you enjoy viewing my Red-spotted Purple butterfly photos.