Blackwood Division, Duke Forest, Orange Co., NC
20 July 2005
Common and statewide in NC. Probably three broods in NC, adults can be seen on the wing during all months from April to November. Named for a red mark on the upper surface of the wings, not for the orange spots below, this common butterfly is often seen along roadsides and trails.
Amazingly, this is a subspecies of another butterfly called the White Admiral (L. a. arthemis), which, at first glance, doesn't look much like our Red-spotted Purple (see below)! |
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Red-spotted Purple (Limenitis arthemis astyanax) Blackwood Division, Duke Forest, Orange Co., NC 20 July 2005 |
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Red-spotted Purple (Limenitis arthemis astyanax) Madison Co., NC 18 May 2023 |
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Red-spotted Purple (Limenitis arthemis astyanax) Madison Co., NC 18 May 2023 |
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Red-spotted Purple males often like to perch on flattened on leaves from which they can launch out and chase other bugs flying by. |
| Red-spotted Purple (Limenitis arthemis astyanax) Carteret Co., NC 26 Aug 2012 |
Red-spotted Purple (Limenitis arthemis astyanax) Orange Co., NC 20 Apr 2006 |
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| Red-spotted Purple (Limenitis arthemis astyanax) Orange Co., NC 18 Aug 2013 |
Red-spotted Purple (Limenitis arthemis astyanax) Duke Gardens, Durham Co., NC 16 Aug 2003 |
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Red-spotted Purple (Limenitis arthemis astyanax) Moore Co., NC 28 Apr 2019 |
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Red-spotted Purple (Limenitis arthemis astyanax) Orange Co., NC 20 Sep 2017 |
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| Red-spotted Purple (Limenitis arthemis astyanax) Currituck Co., NC 20 Aug 2014 |
Red-spotted Purple (Limenitis arthemis astyanax) Durham Co., NC 21 Sep 2010 |
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Red-spotted Purple (Limenitis arthemis astyanax) Chatham Co., NC 24 Sep 2005 Red-spotted Purples are usually seen on dirt roads and at mud but occasionally are found nectaring, like this one on Buddleia. |
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Red-spotted Purple (Limenitis arthemis astyanax) Sam Houston WMA, Montgomery Co., TX 1 Apr 2018 |
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Red-spotted Purple (Limenitis arthemis arizonensis) Carr Canyon, Cochise Co., AZ 28 July 2017 |
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Red-spotted Purple egg (Limenitis arthemis astyanax) Catawba Co., NC 4 Aug 2012 |
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Red-spotted Purple (Limenitis arthemis astyanax) caterpillar Macon Co., NC 12 May 2006 |
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Red-spotted Purple (Limenitis arthemis astyanax) caterpillar Macon Co., NC 12 May 2006 |
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Red-spotted Purple (Limenitis arthemis astyanax) Carteret Co., NC 26 Aug 2012 Hood ornament wannabe |
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This is the White Admiral (Limenitis arthemis arthemis), the same species as above but a different subspecies. It's found in the northern states and Canada and readily hybridizes with Red-spotted Purples where their ranges overlap. |
| White Admiral (Limenitis arthemis arthemis) Ontario, Canada 7 Aug 2005 |
same individual |
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| White Admiral (Limenitis arthemis arthemis) Washington Co., ME 5 July 2011 |
same individual |
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White Admiral (Limenitis arthemis arthemis) Lanark Co., Ontario 13 July 2018 Roadkill |
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| White Admiral (Limenitis arthemis arthemis) Lanark Co., Ontario 13 July 2018 |
Created on ... November 30, 2003 | jeffpippen9@gmail.com