Red-Spotted Purple (Limenitis arthemis astyanax)
The Red-Spotted Purple (which is mostly blue and has orange spots) is common throughout eastern and central North America. Willow, popular and cottonwood are common larval hosts, but larvae have been found feeding on a wide variety of other plants including cherry, apple, pear, birch, oak, beech and basswood as well as currant and blueberry bushes. Adult Red-Spotted Purples visit flowers, but are most commonly found on sap, rotting fruit, carnivore scat and, especially, mud, which is where I found this butterfly.
The Red-Spotted purple is considered a mimic of the Pipevine Swallowtail, which is reputed to have a bad taste to butterfly predators . It is a subspecies of the White Admiral , a species found mostly in northern North America.
Sources and Additional Information:
BugGuide Species Page
Duke University
Dallas County Lepidopterists' Society
BugGuide Species Page
Duke University
Dallas County Lepidopterists' Society
What a beauty. I am so glad you are highlighting butterfly species from our part of the world. One of my pet peeves is that all of these butterfly conservatories that places are spending millions to build bring in non native (to our country) butterflies to fill them. I think it would be so much better to have native species for people to be made aware of. I guess their thinking is that the non natives with their size and color will get peoples attention and there fore bring an awareness to our natives that need less chemicals and more habitat.
ReplyDeleteWell, sorry about my little rant Marvin. I didn't get much sleep last night. You have some beautiful pictures here.
What a beautiful specimen. Fantastic pic What lens do you use?
ReplyDeleteBeautiful!
ReplyDeleteTwo pretty-type photos in a row! How sweet of you.
But I know. Watch out for tomorrow, hu? >,-))))
Some leaf suckin', nasty acting, evil looking bug will grace your site.
-ducking, running and hiding-
^_^
Mari-Nanci
'Photos-City-Mine'
'Smilnsigh'
OH Marvin....this is so beautiful!
ReplyDeleteWOW!
Wonderful pictures of the butterfly. Always a pleasure to look at pictures of these little beauties.
ReplyDeleteThis isone of the nicest I've seen yet... the colour and the sheen as remarkable.. great captures
ReplyDeleteoh. what a beauty of red spotted purple.
ReplyDeleteThank for all your comments.
ReplyDeleteLisa: No problem with the rant. I agree.
Mari-Nanci: Exactly.
Kevin: I'm using an Olympus C-8080WZ just as it came out of the box.
Argh! Blogger ate my comment. <:(
ReplyDeleteWow! So gorgeous!
(FYI, I gave you an award on my blog. Don't feel obligated to go through all of the rigamarole attached, just know that I appreciate what you do here. Keep up the good work!)
There is nothing to say but "beautiful."
ReplyDelete